Frustrated parents of abducted students from St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, have taken to the streets to protest what they describe as government negligence in securing the release of their children and teachers.
The protest occurred on Saturday, November 29, 2025, exactly eight days after armed men stormed the co-educational institution on November 21, 2025, and seized over 300 pupils alongside 12 teachers.
Desperate Parents Demand Action
More than 200 parents gathered at the school premises in Agwara Local Government Area, carrying placards with heartbreaking messages including "Bring Back Our Girls," "Our Girls and Teachers Are Still in Captivity," and "Is Education a Crime?"
The parents expressed deep frustration that neither state nor federal government representatives had visited them since the abduction occurred. They had traveled from various locations, some spending up to four hours on the road, to participate in the registration exercise and voice their concerns.
Joseph Dimas, whose son Julius was among those taken, directly challenged the government's initial response. "The truth is that my child and others were abducted. The government should act and come to our aid instead of saying what is not true," he stated.
School Administration Confirms Details
Reverend Stephen Okafor, the school's Director of Communication, confirmed that the registration of parents was conducted following government instructions. He emphasized the logistical challenges faced by families traveling from over 50 communities served by the institution.
Father Linus Arege, another diocesan priest, verified that 215 parents had officially registered under the supervision of local and diocesan officials.
Most Reverend Bulus Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, maintained hope despite the prolonged captivity. "It is eight days now since their abduction; we have not heard anything yet. We are still very hopeful of their return, and we are prayerful," he said.
International Concern Grows
The situation has attracted global attention, with hundreds of demonstrators gathering outside the Nigerian embassy in Madrid, Spain, on the same day as the parents' protest.
Christiana Wariboko, president of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, appealed for international intervention during the Madrid protest. "We're standing on behalf of Christians, representing Nigerian Christians. Please intervene and do something as it regards the killings of Nigerian Christians," she urged.
This marks Nigeria's second mass school abduction within a week, following the November 17 attack on a secondary school in neighboring Kebbi state where 25 girls were taken.
School administrators including Principal Reverend Sister Felicia Gyam and Headmistress Blessing Amodu described the ongoing distress within the school community, emphasizing there had been no prior warning of the attack and appealing for all stakeholders to assist in rescue efforts.
