The Media Aide to the Proprietor of St Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, Daniel Atori, has said discrepancies remain over the exact number of students and staff abducted from the school despite the release of 130 victims
Atori said verification with parents and guardians was still ongoing, stressing that the school would not declare the rescue exercise concluded until all released persons were physically received and accounted for.
Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, on Monday received the remaining students and staff abducted from the school in Agwara Local Government Area.
The victims were handed over to the governor by the Office of the National Security Adviser, with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, represented by Major General Adamu Laka.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, disclosed, “Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” Dare wrote, adding that all 303 students and 12 teachers seized during the November 21 attack have now been accounted for.
“As it is, the Federal Government can confirm that all the abducted pupils of the Catholic School, Papiri, numbering 230, have been freed. Not a single pupil is left in captivity.”
However, speaking on ARISE News on Tuesday, Atori said the school was still exercising caution.
“At the time of the incident, 50 of them escaped, and we were left with 265 based on the figures we made available. Two weeks ago, on the 8th, 100 of them were rescued and released to their parents. After that, we were left with 165,” he said.
He said the school could not yet declare the rescue operation complete.
“I can’t categorically say that all of them have been rescued. The Federal Government has said they have rescued the remaining children and teachers, and we are taking them by their word. However, we have not yet physically received them.
“According to them, 130 were handed over to the governor, and hopefully by tomorrow, we will be receiving the children and teachers.
“Some of the parents live three to four hours away from Papiri. Getting parents to come forward has been very difficult, and that is why we have continued with headcounts and verification to avoid discrepancies,” he added.
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