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In Niger state, the absence Governor Mohammed Umar Bago or a representative of the state government during a sympathy visit by federal government delegation to Niger state, led by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Tinubu have raised concerns about the sincerity of the state government in ensuring safe return of the remaining students and staff who are still in captivity.
Tinubu has raised concerns about the sincerity of the state government in ensuring the safe return of the remaining students and staff who are still in captivity.
Over 300 students and staff of St. Mary’s Private Catholic primary and secondary school, Papiri in Agwarra Local Government Council, were abducted by armed bandits.
Out of the over 300, 50 of them escaped and returned to their respective families a few days later, while the remaining students and staff are still being held by the attackers.
The state government had insisted that the pupils and staff were ‘missing’ and not abducted, and also disagreed with the school’s proprietor on the number of people that were abducted during the invasion.
While the disagreement between the school and the state government over the number of children and staff of the school lasted, two of the parents died, one of them, the father of three of the abducted students, died of heartbreak.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government (FG) has assured parents/guardians and the management of St. Mary’s Private Catholic primary and secondary school, Papiri, Agwarra local government, that their wards will be rescued unhurt.
“The children are doing fine and will be back soon”, National Security Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nuhu Ribadu, said when he visited the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and parents/guardians of the school at the St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral, Kontagora.
The NSA told the parents/guardians that efforts were on, and security was beefed up to ensure that their wards returned home unhurt.
Ribadu, who delivered President Tinubu’s message of hope and assurance to the congregation, encouraged every Nigerian to join hands together to end the siege by Nigeria’s common enemy, causing citizens sleepless nights and restless days.
“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 as a government to protect our citizens”.
“This is a directive from President Bola Tinubu that we must come and visit you. Mr. President is in pain. He is in sorrow, just like all of us here. He had to cancel his engagements; he was supposed to travel, but suspended the journey for the same reason.”
“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”, Ribadu who was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Bernard Doro, the Director General Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi and Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), northern Nigeria, Rev. Joseph Hayab, said.
The NSA, which commended Bishop Yohanna for standing firm and remaining unwavering despite frustrations in some quarters since the abduction, said, “You are not alone, I can assure you we are together in this.”
“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 President’s NSA further stated that, “The whole world has heard us and is coming together to stop and defeat this evil which has been going on in Nigeria for two decades”.
He said, “The children are where they are and will come back safely. God is with them and God is with us. Evil will never win. They are going to come back, I give you the assurance.
“Mr. President said I should thank you, Bishop Yohanna, for your understanding, patience, for giving us the right information, and for standing by us. We are one.”
The NSA also added, “You will see our reactions and responses now. One thing I know is that evil people will always be around, but this thing they have done is what will change Nigeria for good.”
Bishop Bulus Yohanna, who had earlier thanked President Tinubu and the NSA for showing genuine compassion by the visit and giving hope to families of the victims, later presented hard copies of the report to the NSA, after which they entered a closed-door meeting that lasted for about 30 minutes.
Our correspondent, however, reports that there was no representative from the state government throughout the duration of the federal government’s delegation visit.
When contacted to clarify the insinuations that the state government has been biased in the handling of the Papiri schools attack and for being absent during the federal government delegation’s visit, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Bologi Ibrahim, denied the absence of the state government.
When our correspondent called to clarify why the state government shunned the NSA and his entourage, who were in Niger state on a sympathy visit, Bologi, who responded with a question, simply said, “How are you sure that the state government was not present?”
Continuing the CPS to Governor Bago asked, “Were you there? The person telling you that the state government is not represented is not telling you the truth”.
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