|By Chinwendu Nwani
Parents of the abducted students and teachers of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have cried out in frustration, accusing the government of abandoning them eight days after armed bandits stormed the school and seized 315 people.
The attack, which occurred on November 21, led to the abduction of 303 students and 12 staff members. Fifty students later escaped captivity on November 23, reducing the number of people still held to 253.
On Monday, over 200 distressed parents converged on the school premises, registering their names as directed by the state government. Many wept openly, holding placards with messages such as “Bring Back Our Girls,” “We Need Security in Agwarra,” and “Is Education a Crime?” They lamented that no government official had visited or reached out since the incident.
The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, confirmed that two parents died from shock and trauma following the abduction. He appealed for calm while expressing hope that the hostages would soon regain their freedom.
Sister Blessing Amodu, the headmistress, broke down as she pleaded with authorities to urgently rescue the children and staff.
“I am devastated… all I am pleading for is help to bring these children back,” she sobbed.
Parents also criticised the government’s conflicting statements, saying official denial of the abductions added to their pain.
“My child and others were abducted. The government should stop the blame game and act,” said Dimas Joseph Mauhuta, whose son remains in captivity.
Another parent, Emmanuel Ejeh, urged the government to intervene, recalling that the school had operated peacefully for years. “Bring back our children. They are innocent; they don’t deserve this,” he said.
The Diocesan Director of Communication, Rev. Fr. Stephen Okafor, said the ongoing registration of parents was carried out on government directive to clear misinformation and verify the number of affected families.
Bishop Yohanna noted that the school serves over 50 communities, making the process challenging. Some parents reportedly travelled three to four hours on motorcycles to participate in the registration exercise.
Despite the silence from the abductors, the bishop said the church remained prayerful and hopeful.
