Crime
Father of Three Abducted Pupils in Niger Catholic School Attack Dies of Heart Attack – CAN
By our Correspondent
The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the Northern Region and the FCT, Rev. John Hayab, has revealed that one of the parents of the abducted schoolchildren in Niger State, identified as Mr. Anthony, has died of a heart attack.
Terrorists had on November 22, 2025, abducted 303 students and 12 teachers from St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State.
According to reports, 50 of the abducted students managed to escape and have since been reunited with their families.
Hayab explained that Mr. Anthony, whose three children were among those abducted, succumbed to a heart attack triggered by the trauma of the incident. He noted that the emotional toll on families of the victims remains devastating.
He added that the terrorists, in a newly released video, claimed that government forces were unable to rescue the schoolgirls and that negotiations were instead conducted 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,” Hayab 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, the heartbreak was evident.
“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.