National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, says the pupils and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State, are in good condition and will soon be reunited with their families.
Armed men had invaded the school on November 21, kidnapping 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State later announced that **50 of the students managed to escape.
During a solidarity visit to the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Bulus Yohanna, Ribadu assured the church and families that the kidnapped victims are “doing fine” and would “be back soon.” He described the incident as a solemn moment and acknowledged the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of all citizens.
Ribadu also conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s concern over the abductions, saying the President was deeply pained by the incident and had suspended official engagements in response.
He warned that the federal government would no longer tolerate criminal attacks on communities, declaring, “Enough is enough… Let us not allow bad people to divide us.”
The NSA further revealed that Nigeria is receiving support from international partners, including the United States, France and the United Kingdom, in its ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.
Earlier, Bishop Yohanna expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the government’s intervention and presented reports to the NSA before both men went into a 30-minute closed-door meeting.
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