A parent of one of the abducted students from the Catholic School in Agwara, Niger State, has pleaded with authorities not to shut down the institution despite last month’s mass abduction of 315 people by armed bandits.
This appeal was disclosed by Bishop Bulus Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.
The bishop, who spoke a day after Governor Umar Bago received 100 rescued students, said some parents fear that the school might be permanently closed due to the traumatic incident.
According to him, “One of the parents, when the NSA visited us, was begging that the school should not be closed, that even with this thing that has happened, the school should continue.”
He added that church authorities would encourage the students to return, “We will encourage them to go back to school. We will do everything to make sure that the school continues.”
Bishop Yohanna expressed mixed feelings about the rescue operation, noting that although the return of 100 students brought relief, 165 victims were still being held by their abductors.
“We are experiencing a mix of emotions. We are happy about the release of the 100 students, and at the same time sad because 165 students are still in captivity,” he stated.
On November 21, terrorists stormed the Catholic school in Agwara Local Government Area, abducting 315 individuals, including 12 teachers. While about 50 pupils escaped after two days, the majority remain in captivity.
The bishop urged the government to intensify rescue efforts and strengthen security around schools across Niger State to prevent further attacks and ensure the safe return of the remaining victims.
