Anxiety Grows Over 327 Abducted Pupils
Parents, teachers, and school owners nationwide are increasingly worried over the fate of the 327 pupils kidnapped in Kebbi and Niger states, as school abductions continue to rise in the North.
On Monday, 24 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi, remained in captivity. In Niger, the number of abducted pupils and teachers later increased to 303 after a recount. Despite assurances from authorities, the victims’ whereabouts remain unknown.
National Proprietors of Private Schools Chairman, Otubela Abayomi, said the situation is a major setback for education and national development, while PTA President, Haruna Danjuma, urged the government to rescue the children and prevent another Chibok incident.
Tinubu Vows Tough Action
President Bola Tinubu, represented by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas at the Arewa Consultative Forum anniversary in Kaduna, pledged to dismantle terrorist and bandit networks and restore security in the North. He warned that no region would be left to “bleed in silence.”
Catholic School Attack: Children Cried as Gunmen Invaded
The principal of St Mary’s Catholic Schools, Papiri, Niger State, Rev. Sr. Felicia Gyang, recounted how gunmen broke through gates between 1am and 3am as children screamed. The attackers moved freely through the dormitories before abducting pupils and staff.
Attempts to reach security personnel during the attack failed. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora confirmed the incident and said the gunmen operated for nearly three hours before escaping.
