Abductions in Niger State were financially motivated, not driven by religion – Bishop

Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Catholic Bishop of Kantagora Diocese in Niger State, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, has described the recent abductions in Niger State, Nigeria, as financially motivated rather than religiously driven, though he welcomed the release of 100 abducted pupils

In an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday, Bishop Yohanna, who is also the proprietor of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, said testimonies from the abducted pupils who escaped was likely a ransom-seeking operation, with kidnappers demanding money from the families of the victims.

“Listening to some of those who escaped, I mean the pupils, when the raid was taking place, what they heard them saying was, ‘let us take more so that we have more money.

“Now, if I go by that, I think this abduction has to do more with ransom rather than maybe any religious undertone… sometimes it is said that it is very hard to know when a blind man is sleeping,” he said.

He added that understanding the attackers’ true intentions requires caution:

“So if somebody is carrying out a particular act, until you hear from him what exactly his intention is, you cannot conclude that this is why he is doing it.

“But if what the pupils were saying, those that escaped, they heard them say, let us take more so that we have more money. So maybe the first intention there is for ransom,” he added.

The Bishop also expressed his mixed emotions and relief over the latest developments with 100 students released, but 165 are still being held after terrorists attacked St. Mary’s School on Nov 21, taking 315 people, including 12 teachers. About 50 kids managed to escape right after the attack.

“We are experiencing a mix of emotions. On one hand, we are happy about the release of the 100 students, and on the other hand, we are sad because 165 students are still in captivity,” Bishop Yohanna said.

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