Daniel Atori, media aide to the Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the abducted schoolchildren, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, has said the school is yet to receive the rescued pupils and teachers, despite the Federal Government’s assurance that they have been freed.
Speaking on Monday during an interview on Arise Television, Atori stated that while government officials had claimed the children had been rescued, the school was still verifying and had not received the children physically.
“We have not received these children and teachers, but the Federal Government’s officials say they have all been rescued, so we are taking their word for it,” Atori said.
He explained that the school and diocese had maintained detailed records since the abduction incident and were actively engaging parents to re-identify those still unaccounted for.
“I cannot categorically say they have all been rescued, but we are expecting more to be released,” he added.
Providing a timeline, Atori recalled that 315 individuals, including pupils and teachers, were abducted, and 50 escaped in the early days of the ordeal, leaving 265 still missing.
Atori disclosed that about 100 students were released two weeks ago, bringing the number of those still unaccounted for to 165 at that point.
“We are still continuing in our verification, doing our headcount or expecting more to be released,” he said.