The Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northern Region and the Federal Capital Territory, Rev. John Hayab, has revealed that a parent has died from a heart attack after his three children were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Tuesday, Hayab described the intense trauma families are currently facing after the recent wave of school kidnappings in Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states. He said the deceased parent, identified as Mr. Anthony, could not cope with the shock of losing all three of his children to the attackers.
“People want concrete action. Imagine a parent whose three children were abducted. Mr. Anthony, one of the parents, died yesterday from a heart attack because all three of his children were taken,” he stated.
While PUNCH Online has not independently verified the claim, Hayab stressed that the emotional pain and psychological toll on affected families remain severe. He added that many parents are too frightened to openly speak about their ordeal.
Hayab told church leaders in Kontagora that families are suffering deeply: “It is heartbreaking. A man who loses three children at once is left confused, not knowing what their condition is.”
He also lamented the absence of visible security presence in affected communities, saying Nigerians want action, not repeated official statements. According to him, children who were abducted have endured harsh conditions—no sleep, no bathing, and no certainty about their fate—while parents remain helpless.
Hayab disclosed that while 50 senior students managed to return after fleeing into the bush during the attack, more than 265 children—most between nine and fourteen years old—are still missing. Earlier, the Niger State CAN Chairman announced that 50 abducted pupils had escaped and reunited with their families.
He welcomed the release of 24 girls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, but noted that the situation has left families traumatised and exposed deep flaws in Nigeria’s security architecture.
Presidential aide Bayo Onanuga confirmed the release of the Kebbi students in a statement on Tuesday, saying the past week has been “traumatic for parents, leaders, and security personnel.”
Despite the alarming scale of insecurity, Hayab believes Nigeria has sufficient security manpower, but resources and personnel are not properly deployed. He criticised the large number of officers attached to VIP protection instead of community safety.
“When officers are properly deployed, we can overcome this. We have the capacity, but we are not using it effectively,” he said.
His comments come after the Nigeria Police Special Protection Unit ordered officers attached to VIPs to return to their bases, following President Bola Tinubu’s directive on November 23 withdrawing police personnel from VIP security duties nationwide.
