Tragedy Strikes Niger State Community After Mass School Abduction
A grieving parent from Niger State has died from a heart attack following the traumatic abduction of his three children from their school, according to Reverend John Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the Northern Region and Federal Capital Territory.
The devastating news emerged during an interview with AriseNews, where Rev. Hayab identified the deceased as Mr. Anthony, who passed away due to the overwhelming stress and trauma caused by his children's kidnapping.
Families Living in Fear and Trauma
Rev. Hayab revealed that the emotional wounds remain fresh among affected families, with many parents too frightened to speak publicly about their ordeal. "The pains, the trauma, are still very fresh," Hayab stated during the interview. "We tried speaking to the parents today, and they were scared of speaking to us."
The religious leader emphasized that discussing the situation openly shouldn't be misinterpreted as speaking against authorities, but rather as an attempt to highlight the severity of the problem facing communities.
The Niger State School Abduction Crisis
The tragedy stems from one of Nigeria's most alarming security incidents that occurred on November 21, 2025, when armed men stormed St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, located in Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State.
Initial reports confirmed that 315 people were taken captive, including:
- 303 school children
- 12 teachers and staff members
This mass kidnapping represents one of the largest school abductions in Nigeria's history, drawing both national and international attention to the growing insecurity in northern regions.
Escapes and Ongoing Captivity
In the days following the abduction, there was a glimmer of hope as 50 children managed to escape from their captors, successfully reuniting with their families. However, the situation remains dire as more than 250 students and teachers continue to be held by the armed group.
The school's proprietor, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who also serves as Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State, provided initial confirmation that 215 students and 12 staff members were taken during the early morning attack.
This incident in Niger State follows a similar pattern of violence targeting educational institutions across northern Nigeria, coming just days after gunmen abducted 25 girls from a secondary school in Kebbi State.
The heartbreaking death of Mr. Anthony underscores the profound and lasting emotional toll that school abductions inflict on families and communities, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced security measures to protect Nigeria's children and educational institutions.
