The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Northern Region and the FCT, Rev. John Hayab, has revealed that one of the parents of the abducted schoolchildren in Niger State, identified simply as Mr Anthony, has died of a heart attack.
Rev. Hayab disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview. Recall that more than 200 pupils of a Catholic private school were abducted by terrorists, with 50 reportedly escaping and reuniting with their families.
“One of the parents of the abducted children died yesterday. Mr Anthony suffered a heart attack after the abduction of his three children,” Hayab said.
He added that the trauma experienced by the affected families remains overwhelming. According to him, terrorists claimed in a new video that government forces were unable to rescue the schoolgirls and instead negotiated with community members.
“People don’t understand that when you state the facts as they are, you’re not speaking against anyone; you are simply highlighting the problem,” he said.
“The pain and trauma are still very fresh. We tried speaking to the parents today, but many were too frightened to talk. Even while speaking with the church leadership, it was evident how heartbreaking the situation is.
“You can imagine the shock the man went through, knowing he could not account for the whereabouts or condition of his three children.
“These are children who are used to waking up, brushing their teeth, having breakfast, and later a tea break or lunch, depending on the school system, then dinner. These children have not slept properly for days. They have not eaten well, and some have not even had a bath. You can imagine what they are going through.
“The parents themselves do not know exactly where their children are or what is happening to them. There is even some confusion in the information being circulated,” he added.