The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the Northern Region and the FCT, Rev. John Hayab, has revealed that a parent died of a heart attack following the abduction of his three children from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State. The man, identified as Mr Anthony, reportedly succumbed to the shock and trauma of losing his children during the recent spate of kidnappings in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states.
Speaking to ARISE News on Tuesday, Hayab described the ordeal faced by parents whose children were abducted. He said the grief of families is immense, with many parents unable to comprehend the fate of their missing children. “People want to see concrete action. Imagine a mother or a father whose daughter… one of the parents, Mr Anthony, of these girls picked in the school, died yesterday of a heart attack because three of his children are victims,” he said.
Reports indicate that fifty senior students have returned after fleeing into the bush during the attack, but over 265 pupils remain unaccounted for, most aged between nine and 14. Meanwhile, 24 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, were released recently, a development confirmed by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Hayab warned that families remain traumatised and emphasised that Nigerians are demanding action rather than statements. He noted that a significant portion of security personnel is deployed to protect VIPs and banks, limiting effective response to terrorism. He urged proper deployment of resources, insisting that Nigeria has the manpower to defeat terrorists.
Following the President’s directive, the Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force has ordered all officers attached to VIPs to return to their bases, signalling a renewed focus on securing citizens and addressing insecurity in the country.
