Laleye Dipo in Minna

The Christian Association of Nigeria CAN and the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora have dismissed the claim by the Niger state Government that it directed schools in the Niger North Senatorial district to shut down as a result of insecurity.

This is even as the number of those kidnapped from the St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary school in Paipiri in the Agwara local government area on Friday morning has jumped to 315, including 12 teachers.

Initially it was said that the number of those kidnapped were 227.

A statement made available to newsmen in Minna on Saturday by the state CAN chairman, The Most. Reverend Dr Bulus Dauwa Yohanna who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese dismissed the claim by the state government saying the position of government was not correct.

Dr Yohanna said, “it is very pertinent we address the issue of prior warnings from either the government or security agencies as peddled in some quarters.

“I have just got back to the village this night (Friday) after I visited the school where I also met with parents of the children to assure them that we are working with the government and Security agencies to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely but was greated with what I term “propaganda” that the school was given a prior warning by the government through a circular.

“That is not true, we did not receive any circular, it must be an after thought and a way to shift blame. In the past, around 2022 when we heard of rumours of security challenge, we did not hesitate, we shutdown immediately. Is it when there is a circular from the government asking us to shutdown that we will now not obey?” Dr Yohanna asked

He added that the authorities of the school also asked the Education Secretary if he received a circular, “He said no; or if he was asked to send any to us, he said no. We asked if he was verbally informed, he also said no.

“Let them tell the world who they gave the circular to, or through what channel they sent it”, he submitted.

Dr Yohanna also said the number of students and pupils abducted had risen to 308 from 227 including 12 teachers.

According to him, the new figure was arrived at after some parents “whose children we had thought escaped from the attack also came asking for their children. We became curious and that was when we did census and discovered that they were abducted”.

Yohanna said the total number of pupils and students in the school is 629 with primary school section having 430 and the secondary wing 199 students.

He pleaded with “everyone to remain calm and prayerful”, assuring that the management will continue to actively collaborate with security operatives, community leaders, government and relevant authorities for the safe and quick return of all abductees.

As a result of the incident, it was learnt that the school has been deserted with all windows and doors shut.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago who was outside the state when the incident occured on Saturday held an enlarged security council meeting with critical stakeholders where he announced the closure of all schools in the state either private or government owned with immediate effect.

“We have declared Christmas holidays from today,” Governor Bago told the meeting.

On the statistics of those abducted, the Governor refused to be drawn into the issue saying,” the figures are not official, the department of state and the police are doing the headcount.”

Opening the meeting Governor Bago said “we woke up yesterday (Friday) with a very sad news of the unfortunate incident of the kidnap of our children in school in Paipiri.

He continued that “this incident could have been avoided, however this is not the time for blame game

“Our mission today is to see how we can rescue these children and others who have been kidnapped in the area” before calling on everyone to join in the rescue efforts.

Bago declared “Nigeria is the only country we have, Niger state is our state, we must all make it peaceful”.