Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has accused the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Dr. Bulus Yohanna, of failing to provide accurate information on last Friday’s abduction of students from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara LGA.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time on Monday, Onanuga alleged that Yohanna was “playing games” with the incident and hindering efforts by authorities to establish the actual number of abducted students.
He dismissed earlier claims by the CAN chairman that 51 students had been rescued, insisting that those students were never abducted in the first place.
According to him, the government is still uncertain about the number of missing students due to inadequate cooperation from the school and religious authorities.
He dismissed earlier claims by the CAN chairman that 51 abducted students had been rescued, insisting that those students were never captured.
“I learnt when the bandits came in the night, the students were running helter-skelter and some of them merely ran back to their homes,” he said.
According to him, the government remains uncertain about the number of missing students due to a lack of cooperation from school and religious authorities.
“As at the moment, the authorities are in the dark as to how many people are really missing,” Onanuga said, adding that even security agencies had no clarity.
He noted that Niger State Governor had requested a list of missing students but had yet to receive one.
“The authorities are in the dark as to how many people are really missing. The Niger State Governor asked for the list of students that are missing, up till now, I don’t know what kind of game the CAN chairman in Niger is playing. They are not collaborating with the government, I don’t know why they are doing that. Even the security men don’t know why they are not releasing the names.” he stated.
The presidential aide further claimed that Rev. Yohanna instructed the school principal not to engage with security operatives, complicating ongoing rescue efforts.
“The CAN chairman of Niger actually told the principal of that school not to talk to security people,” Onanuga alleged.