Abducted Niger pupils will be freed – CAN chairman

The Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria and Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna.

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The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, has said he is confident that the abducted pupils and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, will be released.

He said the recent visit of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to Niger showed that the Federal Government is taking the matter seriously.

A total of 315 persons, including 12 teachers, were kidnapped when terrorists invaded the c school in Agwara Local Government Area of the state on November 21.

However, about 50 of the pupils later escaped from their captors after two days, but the rest are still with their captors.

Speaking with our correspondent on Friday, Yohanna said the church had provided all necessary information to the authorities and would not interfere in the ongoing rescue operations.

He said, “I would say the government is doing their best. They are doing something. I’m sure you are aware that the National Security Adviser came to Kontagora. So they are on it.”

Asked whether the kidnappers had made contact, Yohanna replied that such matters were outside his responsibility.

“That is not my jurisdiction; I’m not the government. I have finished all I needed to do, which is to give them all the necessary information. We had a wonderful meeting with the NSA,” Yohanna added.

The bishop defended the church for releasing the identities of the abducted children instead of leaving it to the government.

He said, “Between the fish and the toad, who knows more about the water? Certainly, the fish. I don’t think anyone should come and tell me where my room is leaking.”

On public concerns that the rescue efforts were slow, the CAN chairman said it was not his place to judge the pace of security agencies.

The bishop added, “That is not my job. I cannot tell them how fast or how slow they are going. Everyone has their duty. If the President can send somebody directly from Abuja to come and meet us, what else do I need?”

“They came direct, they didn’t stop anywhere, and they went back immediately. If they are not serious, will they boycott every other thing and come?”

Despite the tension surrounding the mass abduction, Yohanna expressed strong faith that the children would be rescued.

“We are people of faith. We believe it’s a matter of time. The children will be released. We believe we have done what is necessary,” he said.

He confirmed that the NSA held both a general meeting and a private session with stakeholders, refusing to disclose the details of the closed-door discussion.

“If what was discussed in private was for the public, why was it not said at the general meeting?” he said. “It’s not for me to begin to disclose all that. It would be a betrayal of trust.”

Using a proverb to emphasise the need for caution, the bishop said, “If your buttocks are inside water, don’t insult the crocodile. So, let’s leave it at that.”

Yohanna explained that the delegation from Abuja bypassed some local officials to obtain accurate information firsthand.

“If two people are quarrelling and you listen to one side, that is a half-truth, and half-truth is a lie. They came to clarify and know exactly what is on the ground. They heard the truth. And truth is one,” he added.

The bishop said although he was not in control of the rescue operation, he was confident progress is being made.

“You can suppress the truth or deny it, but time will tell. Something is happening, and it’s only a matter of time,” he said.

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