The National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, has given a fresh assurance that the children kidnapped from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri in Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State will be rescued and safely returned home.
Naijaonpoint reports that Ribadu gave the assurances on Monday during a visit to the state, where he also visited the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, and families of the victims at St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral, Kontagora.
Ribadu, who was accompanied by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Bernard Doro, and the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, said President Bola Tinubu has ordered that security efforts be intensified towards ensuring the safe return of the abducted schoolchildren.
According to him, the children “are where they are and will come back safely.”
He said the President had to suspend various other engagements to focus on efforts towards rescuing the children from their abductors.
He called on Nigerians to unite against what he described as a “common enemy,” stressing that evil will not prevail.
During the visit, the NSA commended Bishop Yohanna for his resilience and acknowledged the support Nigeria is receiving from the international community, including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.
Before going into a closed-door meeting with the stakeholders, hard copies of the investigation report were presented to the NSA.
Parents and school officials, including the Principal, Rev. Sister Felicia Gyang, also narrated events surrounding the unfortunate abduction of the students from St. Mary’s school by bandits.
It would be recalled that back in November, armed bandits stormed St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State, using motorcycles and vehicles and kidnapped several students.
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