Yesterday, I covered the story of terrorists kidnapping students and staff from St. Mary, a Catholic school in Niger state, located in north-central Nigeria.
Authorities updated the total.
The terrorists took over 300 students, both male and female, and 12 teachers.
They snatched 88 students who tried to escape.
The boarding school is in the remote Papiri community.
From The Associated Press:
Niger state has now shut down all schools as a measure to forestall other kidnappings. The decision was in a bid to protect lives and property, Niger Gov. Umar Bago told reporters Saturday after meeting with security officials in Minna.“It is the decision of stakeholders today to close all schools in Niger state. All schools are closed till further notice. So we have declared Christmas holiday for all schools in Niger state,” Bago said.
The state government claimed that it told schools to close after terrorists kidnapped 25 female students in northwestern Nigeria.
Most. Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Niger state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria, lashed out at the false claim:
Yohanna described as false a claim from the state government that the school had reopened for studies despite an earlier directive for schools in that part of Niger state to close temporarily due to security threats.“We did not receive any circular. It must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame,” he said, calling on families “to remain calm and prayerful.”
Nigeria faced four kidnappings this week alone. FOUR.
On Wednesday, terrorists attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State, killing two people.
They abducted 38 people and demanded $69,000 in ransom for each person.
Terrorists also kidnapped a priest this week.
They took Father Bobbo Paschal on November 17. The Catholic Archdiocese of Kaduna, the location of Monday’s kidnapping, refuted claims that Paschal died:
Fr. Paschal was abducted in the early hours of November 17 from his residence when gunmen attacked St. Stephen Parish of Kaduna Catholic Archdiocese.In a statement issued November 17, Fr. Okewu said that “during the attack, numerous people were kidnapped, and Fr. Anthony Yero’s brother was killed.”
Nigeria has sought to make kidnappings unappealing by banning ransom payments.
A person can receive at least 15 years in prison if they pay a ransom. You can get the death penalty if the victim dies.
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