Niger gov tackles catholic school’s management

• Bago denies abduction of any students, says bandits only scared them

• CAN confirms 50 students escape, reunite with families

From John Adams, Minna

Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has stirred a major controversy over the attack on St. Mary’s Catholic Missionary School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area with his declaration that no student was abducted by bandits.

He said the students only ran into the bush after the bandits scared them with sporadic gun shots and were beginning to return home from their hideout. He said security agents were combing the bushes to discover more students.

At the weekend, the government had ordered closure of all public and private primary and secondary schools across the state following the abduction of pupils at St Mary’s Catholic School.

Bago announced the directive on Saturday after a security meeting with heads of security agencies.

The governor called on security agencies, civil society organisations, organised labour and religious leaders to focus on the rescue operation, saying the government remains committed to protecting lives and property. He described the abduction as sad and unfortunate, adding that efforts were being made to ensure the safe return of the abducted pupils and other victims.

But, the governor made a U-turn when he granted an interview to TVC news on Saturday night. “There was nothing like mass abduction, what happened was that the bandits came and were shooting sporadically into the air and the students were scared and escaped into the nearby bush.

“Right now, about 60 of them have come out of their hiding. The security agents are combing the bush for more of them who are still hiding, so we appeal for calm.”

He insisted that the government gave early warning to the school management of an imminent bandits’ attacks but was ignored. Noting that the management closed the school sometimes ago but later reopened them, he  wondered who asked them to reopen the school.

This claim by the governor had earlier been debunked by the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), who challenged the government to prove the allegation of early warning to the management as there was no communication from the government to that effect, either written or verbal.

He described the claim by the government as mere propaganda and an afterthought.

Meanwhile, the governor’s supposed on-the-spot assessment visit to the school to get first hand information of the incident only terminated at the palace of the Emir of Borgu on Saturday.

While at the palace, the governor said during an interview with newsmen that “visiting the school will be an effort in futility because there is nobody in the school.”

However, about 50 of the ‘abducted’ students have escaped and reunited with their parents.

Rev. Fr. Bulus Yohanna, chairman of CAN in Niger and proprietor of the school, confirmed the development in an update by his media aide, Mr. Daniel Atori yesterday.

Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, said the pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday but did not return to the school.

He said their return was confirmed during visits and calls to the affected families. He explained that the primary section of the school has 430 pupils, comprising 377 boarders and 53 day pupils.

He said that aside from the 50 pupils who escaped, 141 pupils were not taken away during the attack.

He added that 236 pupils, three children of staff members, 14 secondary school students, and 12 members of staff, remain in captivity bringing the total number of those still with the abductors to 253.

He urged the public to remain calm and prayerful, noting that the school and the church were collaborating with security agencies, community leaders, the government and other stakeholders to ensure the safe return of the remaining victims.

“As much as we receive the return of these 50 children with a sigh of relief, I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims,” he said.

He prayed for the quick release of the abductees and divine protection for the community.