Father of 3 Abducted Niger School Pupils Dies

News Update

A parent of one of the students abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, has passed away due to complications related to emotional trauma.

The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Northern Region and Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rev. John Hayab, confirmed the development on Tuesday, disclosing that the deceased, Mr Anthony, died of a heart attack hours after the abduction of his three children.

Hayab said, “One of the parents of the abducted children from the school died yesterday of a heart attack. Mr Anthony died of a heart attack following the abduction of his 3 children.”

The cleric noted that public misinterpretations should not distract from the core issue, explaining, “People don’t understand that when you tell it as it is, you’re not speaking against anybody. You are only trying to state the problem.”

Rev. Hayab revealed that parents and officials remain too shaken to engage the press.

He said, “The pains, the trauma, are still very fresh. We tried speaking to the parents today, and they were scared of speaking to us.”

He disclosed that another attempt to reach families for confirmation ended in silence.

Despite the grief, the school administration confirmed a glimmer of hope as 50 pupils found a way out of the terrorists’ forest enclave.

The proprietor of the school, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, also confirmed the escape and safety of 50 pupils following verification visits to their homes.

“As much as we receive the return of these 50 children that escaped with some sigh of relief, I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims.

“For the records, 251 primary pupils; 14 secondary students; 12 teachers are still in the custody of the abductors,” the statement read, signed electronically by Daniel Atori, Media Aide to the bishop.

The school memo further detailed the pupil distribution before the attack.

It read, “In the primary section, out of the 430 pupils, 377 are boarders; 53 are non-boarders.

“Aside the 50 that escaped, 141 were not carried away. As it stands now, 236 pupils, 3 staff children, 14 students, making a total 253, including 12 staff, are still with their abductors.”