|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
A prominent local Catholic leader says Nigeria’s government is not making meaningful headway in rescuing more than 250 children abducted from St Mary’s boarding school in Papiri last Friday.
Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of Niger CAN and the region’s Catholic head, has said that rescue efforts have been mainly involved compiling the students’ names, and very little visible action to free them. State authorities have disputed the accusations, with Niger State Police Chief Adamu Abdullahi Elleman insisting that security forces are actively conducting operations.
He confirmed that a tactical team and other agencies are stationed in the community and that officers have been moving between the school and Agwara, the operational base.
The exact number of abducted students is still unclear with CAN’s Niger chapter indicating 303 students and 12 staff members, while 50 students reportedly escaped and have been reunited with their families.
Nigerian officials have blamed criminal gangs for the spree of abductions, involving ransom, which has surged in recent weeks, and the Papiri incident follows two other high-profile abductions in Nigeria last week. In Kebbi State 24 girls were freed after their initial capture, and 38 worshippers abducted from a Kwara state church were also released, with two killed during the attack. Governors across the country have heightened security at schools, churches, and other vulnerable sites as parents rush to bring children home.
Responding to the increased security concerns, Police Chief Kayode Egbetokun has indicated that security operations have intensified, including enhanced intelligence efforts, and he has pledged that all remaining captives would be rescued unharmed.
In the meantime, Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has been forced to shift his attentions from international engagements to domestic security.
Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand
