The safe return of 100 of the students who were victims of the Nov. 21 mass abduction at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State has been secured, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, confirmed in a Dec. 8 social media statement.
The whereabouts and wellbeing of more than 160 other students and staff members who were kidnapped at gunpoint in the same attack remains unknown, according to The Christian Post.
“I rejoice with Governor Umar Bago and commend our security agencies for their steadfast work in ensuring the safe return of the students to their families since the unfortunate incident on November 21,” Tinubu said in the X post.
The president stressed that efforts to rescue the other hostages are ongoing.
“My directive to our security forces remains that all the students and other abducted Nigerians across the country must be rescued and brought back home safely. We must account for all the victims,” he said. “The Federal Government will continue to work with Niger State and other states to secure our schools and make the learning environment safer and more conducive for our young ones.
The Christian Post reports that an undisclosed United Nations source told Agence France-Press that authorities were making arrangements to transfer the 100 children back to state officials. The government anticipated the children being received into state custody Dec. 8.
Local Catholic leaders said they had not been formally notified yet by the federal government of the students’ return.
Daniel Atori, a spokesman for Bishop Bulus Yohanna of the Kontagora Diocese in Nigeria, said according to Agence France-Press, “We have been praying and waiting for their return, if it is true then it is a cheering news.”
CatholicVote previously reported that the diocese said more than 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped in the attack by terrorists, and that two days after the attack, 50 students had managed to escape.
In his Dec. 8 statement, Tinubu concluded by emphasizing that steps must be taken to ensure children do not continue to be at risk of such attacks.
“From now on, our security agencies, working with the governors, must prevent future kidnappings,” he said. “Our children should no longer be sitting ducks for heartless terrorists intent on disrupting their education and subjecting them and their parents to unspeakable trauma.”
>> Catholic congressman denounces abductions at St. Mary’s Catholic school in Nigeria <<
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