CAN Opens Up on Schoolgirls Abduction: A
Crisis of Trust and Responsibility
The
recent abduction of over 300 students and staff from a school in Niger State
has once again thrown Nigeria into the throes of grief, fear, and outrage.
At the center of this unfolding tragedy is the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, which has openly challenged the narrative put forward by the state government. The government claimed that the school had been warned of an impending attack and directed to shut down, but CAN insists no such warning was ever received.
Most Rev.
Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of CAN
in Niger State, described the government’s assertion as “mere propaganda” and
an afterthought designed to shift blame. He emphasized that neither the school
management nor the Education Secretary received any circular, written or
verbal, alerting them to the threat.
This
contradiction between government claims and CAN’s rebuttal raises troubling
questions about accountability, transparency, and the effectiveness of
Nigeria’s security apparatus.
The scale of the abduction is staggering. CAN’s verification exercise revealed that 303 students and 12 staff members were taken, bringing the total number of abductees to 315.
The school, with a population of 629 pupils across primary
and secondary sections, was left devastated. Parents who initially believed
their children had escaped later discovered otherwise, deepening the anguish
and uncertainty surrounding the incident.
This
tragedy is not just about numbers; it is about the erosion of trust between
citizens and the institutions meant to protect them. When government statements
are contradicted by religious and community leaders, the public is left
grappling with confusion and suspicion.
The
denial of prior warnings by CAN underscores a systemic failure in communication
and preparedness. If indeed warnings were issued, why did they not reach the
intended recipients? And if they were not, why would the government claim
otherwise?
Beyond
the blame game, the abduction highlights the vulnerability of schools in
conflict-prone regions. The fact that boarding schools remain targets for
bandits and insurgents speaks to a larger national crisis of insecurity.
Parents
are now besieging federal government colleges to withdraw their children, a
move that reflects both fear and a lack of confidence in the state’s ability to
safeguard education.
CAN’s
call for calm and prayerful resilience is commendable, but faith alone cannot
resolve this crisis. What is needed is a coordinated, transparent, and
proactive approach by government and security agencies to ensure the safe
return of the abductees and prevent future tragedies.
The
abduction of schoolchildren is not merely a local issue; it is a national
emergency that strikes at the heart of Nigeria’s future.
In the
end, the Niger school abduction is more than a story of banditry, it is a test
of governance, responsibility, and truth.
The
conflicting narratives between CAN and the state government must be reconciled,
not brushed aside. For the families of the abducted, clarity and action are far
more important than propaganda.
Nigeria
cannot afford to let its children become pawns in a cycle of insecurity and
political blame-shifting.
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