The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has assured parents that the 265 abducted students and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic school Papiri Agwara local government of Niger State still in the den of their captors are “doing fine” and will soon be reunited with their families.
Ribadu, who visited the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message of hope and assurance, stating that efforts are underway to secure their release.
He emphasized that the president is “in pain” and has suspended his travel plans to focus on the situation, while urging Nigerians to join hands to defeat the common enemy causing havoc in the country.
According to him, “This is a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that we must come and visit you. Mr President is in pain. He is in sorrow just like all of us. He stopped everything he was doing and he was supposed to travel but he suspended his journey.”
“This is a very solemn and difficult moment for us, especially after hearing from some of the parents and all of you. However, we take responsibility because it is our duty to protect you”
“The federal government is assuring the parents that security has been beefed up and the whole world is coming together to stop the evil acts. Enough is enough, we will not relent in our efforts, we are all under attack, let us not allow bad people to divide us, let us not allow evil to get into us, ” he stated.
Ribadu also disclosed, “many good people from all over the world are coming to support us, including the United States of America. We appreciate everyone, especially the European countries like France, the United Kingdom and a couple of others”.
The NSA further stated , ” Mr President said I should thank you, Bishop Yohanna for your understanding, patience, for giving us the right information and by standing by for us. We are one”.
” We want to assure that the school will remain and survive and the children will return back because “we will provide security in that axis”.
Responding, Bishop Yohanna expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and Ribadu for their support by bringing the message of hope for the parents and presented a report on the incident .
Afterwards, Bishop Yohanna alongside the NSA entered a closed door meeting that lasted 30 minutes.
The Principal of the school, Rev Sister Felicia Gyang, and a parent representative, Mr Luka Iliya, shared details of the incident and the trauma the abduction has caused for the parents and management of the school.
Those in the team of the NSA during the visit include the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Bernard Doro, the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Northern Nigeria , Rev. Joseph Hayab.
There was no representative from the side of the State Government at the visit.