By Obinna Uballa
The already tragic mass abduction of students from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, has taken an even darker turn, as one of the victims’ parents reportedly died of a heart attack.
John Hayab, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for the northern region and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), disclosed the death during an Arise TV interview on Tuesday night. Hayab identified the man simply as “Mr Anthony,” explaining that the shock and trauma of having three of his children abducted triggered the fatal cardiac event.
“There is something that probably many Nigerians don’t know. One of the parents of the recently abducted students died because three of his children were victims,” Hayab said.
The disclosure highlights the hidden human toll of the mass kidnapping, which occurred in the early hours of Friday, 21 November 2025. Armed gunmen stormed St Mary’s School, a Catholic boarding institution in Agwara Local Government Area, abducting 303 students and 12 teachers – one of the largest school kidnappings in recent Nigerian history.
While 50 students have reportedly escaped and returned to their families, about 253 pupils and 12 staff remain in captivity. Many of the victims are reportedly frightened and exhausted, with parents struggling to cope with the uncertainty surrounding their children’s fate.
Hayab described the broader impact of such attacks, saying, “These children have not slept, they have not bathed, and their parents cannot even explain where they are. When you look back at the effort that this administration and the security networks have made in the past few months, you’ll have hope. But the activities of the terrorists are beginning to overwhelm everyone.”
He also urged the government to rethink security deployment, pointing out that a large portion of personnel are tasked with guarding VIPs and banks rather than protecting vulnerable communities.
The Niger school abduction comes amid a surge in attacks on schools across northern Nigeria. Earlier this month, 25 girls were abducted from a boarding school in Kebbi State, 24 of whom have since been rescued.
