The wahala for Nigeria security matter don get another chapter as Pope Leo XIV on Sunday beg for the quick release of more than 300 students and teachers wey bandits carry from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School for Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State.
The Pope talk the matter after the Angelus prayer, and him voice full sadness as him hear say small pikin dem and their teachers don enter days for the hand of kidnappers. According to am, schools and churches suppose be safe ground, not place wey innocent people go dey fear for their life.
Him also call make people around the world join hand pray for Nigeria and for the families wey their children and loved ones no dey seen for house since Friday.
How the Abduction Take Happen
The attack happen between 3am and 4am early Friday morning. People for the area talk say the bandits come in large numbers, some dey ride more than 60 motorcycles joined with one motor wey follow the convoy. Dem break enter the school compound, injure the gatekeeper badly, then rush go the hostels where the children dey sleep.
First report talk say the number no reach too many, but as people begin check well, dem come see say the matter big pass wetin dem first talk. Some teachers follow the students join, and the total number of people wey dem carry now stand for 315.
This incident happen just few days after another school for Kebbi State face attack, where girls carry go. Kwara State too see attack for church, where two people kpai and many carry go. Nigerians don dey complain say these kinds of attacks dey too frequent and government must do more.
CAN Give New Numbers After Proper Check
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for Niger State talk on Saturday say the real number of people wey bandits carry na 303 students and 12 teachers. Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna talk say dem reach this number after dem call parents and do proper verification.
Dem even see say 88 extra students wey dem believe run escape from the attack actually no escape. Na when parents begin ask questions, dem come know say more pikin still mimiss.
Before the attack, the school get total students of 629 — 430 for primary and 199 for secondary.
No Warning Come Before the Attack
Bishop Yohanna also clear the rumour wey dey fly up and down say government or security people send warning before the attack. Him call am “false story,” say nobody send any circular. He talk say the school don always obey security notice before, with the example of 2022 when dem shut down because of small rumour.
Him still talk say the school na Catholic Diocese property, no be individual get am, and the talk say Reverend Sisters travel go Abuja before the attack na pure lie.
The education secretary and private school association also talk say nobody give dem any warning.
Call for Peace and Hope
Even with the pain wey the community dey feel, the Bishop tell parents make dem calm down, say church dey work with security people, community heads and government to bring back the students and teachers safely.
Nigerians everywhere dey pray say all the children and teachers go return home alive and healthy as rescue operations continue.
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