The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northern Region and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Hayab, has disclosed that a parent suffered a fatal heart attack after his three children were abducted during the attack on St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.
In an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, Hayab spoke about the severe distress families in Niger, Kebbi and Kwara states have endured following the series of mass kidnappings recorded in the past week.
He explained that the deceased father, identified as Mr. Anthony, could not cope with the emotional shock.
“People want to see concrete action. Imagine a mother or a father whose daughter… one of the parents (Mr Anthony) of these girls picked in the school, died yesterday of a heart attack because three of his children are victims,” he said.
Although PUNCH online noted it could not independently verify the claim, Hayab insisted that families remain deeply traumatised.
“People don’t understand that when you tell it as it is, you’re not speaking against anybody; you are only trying to state the problem.
The pains and the trauma are still very fresh. We tried speaking to the parents today, and they were scared of speaking to us,” he added.
He told church leaders in Kontagora that the emotional burden on parents was overwhelming.
“It was a very sad thing. You can imagine a man in shock because three children… he would not know what to explain, what is happening to them,” he said.
According to him, some parents have no idea where their children are or what they are going through.
“People don’t understand this. These children have not slept, they have not bathed, and their parents cannot even explain where they are,” he stressed.
Hayab further lamented reports from residents in Niger State indicating little to no visible security presence in affected areas, saying Nigerians are tired of mere assurances and want concrete action.
He noted that while 50 senior students managed to escape after running into the bush during the attack, over 265 others aged between nine and 14 remain missing. CAN officials in Niger State earlier confirmed that 50 abducted pupils had reunited with their families.
Hayab also praised the release of 24 schoolgirls kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, but warned that the events of the past week have left families “traumatised” and highlighted longstanding lapses in the nation’s security architecture.
President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the Kebbi girls’ release in a statement on Tuesday.
“Everybody is worried, everybody is angry, everybody needs a stop. It has been a traumatic week for parents, for leaders and for our security men,” Hayab said.
Despite the worsening situation, he insisted that Nigeria has the capacity to defeat terrorists if security assets are properly deployed.
“A large chunk of those who are supposed to secure Nigerians are securing VIPs. Many police officers are guarding banks. Banks should recruit their own security, but they are taking advantage of what is going on,” he said.
“When proper deployment is done, we will be able to get rid of these things. We have what it takes, but we are not deploying it,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force has recalled officers assigned to VIPs across the country, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive on November 23 ordering immediate withdrawal of police personnel from non-essential VIP duties
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