Confusion deepens in Niger State as families say no clear CAN response or official update has confirmed the reported release of 100 abducted students.
The uncertainty surrounding the reported release of 100 abducted pupils from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, continued to raise concern on Monday as the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) stated that it had yet to receive any official confirmation.
The lingering silence from security authorities and the absence of clear communication has intensified anxiety among parents whose children remain unaccounted for.
The Federal Government had on Sunday, December 7, announced that 100 of the kidnapped pupils had been freed after negotiations and coordinated rescue efforts.
The announcement initially sparked cautious optimism across Niger State, especially within the Agwara Local Government Area where the horrific mass abduction took place.
However, the optimism was short-lived as church leaders and community representatives insisted they had not been informed of the development through any formal channel.
In a statement issued on Monday, December 8, the Chairman of the Niger State chapter of CAN, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, expressed the deep emotional toll the situation had taken on the affected communities.
He explained that while the people pray daily for good news, no tangible confirmation had reached them to validate the claims of the pupils’ release.
According to him, the return of even a single child would be a moment of immense relief, but the absence of official updates has left families suspended in fear and uncertainty.
Bishop Yohanna described the emotional struggle the communities have endured since the attack.
Parents, he said, have become shadows of their former selves, spending their days in restless waiting and sleepless nights praying for their children’s safety.
The bishop emphasised that what the communities seek is not rumours or speculative statements but authentic information backed by verifiable facts.
He reiterated that despite the circulating news, neither CAN nor the families had been briefed by government agencies, military authorities, or rescue operatives.
The bishop’s statement highlighted the yearning for truthful updates, noting that what should have been a joyous moment now feels like an unconfirmed story.
“It will indeed be a thing of joy if some of our children have been released,” he said.
“We have been praying and waiting for their return. If the information is true, then it is cheering news. However, we are not officially aware and have not been duly notified.”
He explained further that the Association would continue to hope, pray, and engage relevant authorities until every child is brought home alive.
The Papiri abduction remains one of the most devastating mass kidnappings in the region in recent years.
On 21 November 2025, armed bandits stormed St. Mary’s Catholic schools in the remote community early in the morning, seizing a total of 315 individuals—303 students and 12 teachers.
The attack threw the quiet agrarian community into chaos, triggering an outpouring of international concern and renewed calls for strengthened security measures in rural schools.
Within the first 24 hours of the attack, 50 pupils managed a daring escape, trekking through bushes and unfamiliar terrain before being found by vigilante groups and later reunited with their families.
Their accounts painted a grim picture of how the bandits operated—swift movements, heavy weaponry, and threats that terrified the children into submission.
Since then, security forces have launched multiple operations across forests spanning Niger, Kebbi, and parts of Zamfara State.
While the government has repeatedly assured the public of its commitment to freeing the remaining hostages, its communication strategy has sparked criticism, especially from community leaders who say they learn new information from the media instead of official sources.
This communication gap is what Bishop Yohanna referred to when explaining the need for clear updates.
He noted that the repeated uncertainty has made it difficult for families to distinguish between verified reports and circulating rumours.
This lack of clarity, he explained, is why the Association is waiting for a formal CAN response to align with authorised government briefings.
Across Papiri and neighbouring communities, the mood remains tense. Some families, hoping the news of the release is true, have begun preparing to welcome their children home.
Others remain sceptical, insisting they need to physically see their children before believing any announcement.
Many residents recall previous situations in which initial rescue claims were later contradicted by actual field reports.
Community elders emphasise that beyond the emotional trauma, the abduction has crippled educational activities in Papiri.
The school remains closed, and children who previously trekked joyfully to classes now struggle with fear.
Teachers have also expressed reservations about returning to work in the area unless security presence is significantly increased.
Humanitarian organisations working in the region say the psychological recovery of the escaped pupils alone has been challenging, as many still experience nightmares, sudden panic, and overwhelming fear triggered by loud sounds or unfamiliar voices.
The fate of the students still in captivity adds an additional layer of urgency to calls for continued rescue efforts.
As the wait continues, parents, clergy, and local leaders have intensified their appeals for transparency.
They insist that in a crisis of this magnitude, accurate information is as important as the rescue operations themselves.
The bishop stressed that only when authorities provide detailed confirmation can a complete CAN response be issued to guide the community’s next steps.
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