CAN Opens Up on Schoolgirls Abduction

Special Report: CAN Opens Up on Schoolgirls Abduction

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, has strongly refuted claims by the state government that the management of a Niger school had been warned of an impending bandit attack before the abduction of hundreds of students and staff.

The incident, which has shaken the region, saw 315 individuals, 303 students and 12 staff members, taken captive by gunmen.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of CAN in Niger State, described the government’s assertion as “mere propaganda” and an afterthought. He emphasized that neither the school management nor the Education Secretary received any written or verbal communication warning of the attack. According to him, the claim was a way to shift blame rather than a genuine account of events.

Rev. Yohanna recalled that in 2022, when rumors of insecurity reached the school, management did not hesitate to shut down operations immediately. He contrasted that proactive decision with the current situation, where no such warning was received. CAN further noted that the National Association of Private Schools in Niger State also denied receiving any directive from the government regarding closures in the affected zone.

The abduction figures were clarified after a verification exercise revealed that more students had been captured than initially thought. Parents who believed their children had escaped later reported them missing, leading to the discovery that 88 additional students had been abducted during escape attempts. This brought the total number of abductees to 315. The school itself has a population of 629, comprising 430 pupils in the primary section and 199 in the secondary section.

CAN has urged calm and prayer among parents and communities, assuring that it is working closely with security agencies, government officials, and community leaders to secure the safe return of the abductees.

Rev. Yohanna stressed the importance of unity and vigilance, while calling on those who made the “misleading statement” about prior warnings to either withdraw it or provide concrete evidence.

The incident has sparked widespread concern, with parents besieging federal government colleges to withdraw their children, fearing similar attacks. The crisis underscores the growing insecurity in northern Nigeria and the urgent need for coordinated action between government, security agencies, and community stakeholders to protect schools and vulnerable populations.

This tragic event highlights the fragility of education in conflict-prone regions and the devastating impact of banditry on families, communities, and the nation’s future. CAN’s firm stance against what it terms government propaganda reflects the tension between civil society and state authorities in the face of Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.