Nigeria has been thrown into fresh anxiety following a series of bandit attacks on schools, coming just days after the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and over 300 students in Niger State.
Amid the tension, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 northern states and the FCT, Rev. John Hayab, revealed that the father of three of the abducted Niger schoolchildren died of a heart attack after hearing of their kidnapping.
The national leadership of CAN has now called on the federal government to take urgent and decisive steps to protect citizens, insisting that excuses can no longer justify the rising wave of violence across the country.
In Abuja, the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, vowed to sanction officials responsible for an unauthorised circular ordering the closure of schools over security concerns. He described the act as careless and capable of causing nationwide panic.
At the National Assembly, tensions boiled over. Senators clashed during a heated debate on insecurity, with some warning that Nigeria is “under attack” and rapidly losing public confidence. In the House of Representatives, lawmakers criticised the federal government for negotiating with bandits to secure the release of abducted students, insisting such actions will only encourage more violence.
The situation in Kogi State almost turned tragic when attackers stormed a community school, but local vigilantes responded quickly and rescued all students taken during the ambush. Their bravery, however, came at a cost as one vigilante and one resident were killed. The chairman of Kabba/Bunu Local Government confirmed the attack and warned against spreading unverified information that could worsen public fear.
Meanwhile, Rev. Hayab spoke emotionally about the trauma families face in states hit by recent kidnappings. He recounted how Mr. Anthony, father of three abducted schoolgirls, collapsed and died from shock. According to Hayab, parents are living in fear, unsure of what their children are going through in captivity.
At the CAN General Assembly in Abuja, the national president, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, urged the federal government to rise to its constitutional duty of protecting all Nigerians, describing the current climate as a threat to the country’s moral and spiritual foundation.
Also in Abuja, Minister Wike condemned the panic-inducing school-closure circular in the FCT, insisting there was no justification for such a directive. He announced the suspension of the Mandate Secretary for Education and promised disciplinary action for all officials involved.
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During the Senate session, lawmakers from different parties raised concerns about troop withdrawals, failed intelligence, and internal sabotage. Some demanded international assistance to curb the growing wave of kidnappings and banditry. A call for the death penalty for kidnappers was also adopted as part of the Senate's resolutions.
In the House of Representatives, lawmakers from six geopolitical zones jointly criticised the federal government’s decision to negotiate with bandits, warning that such tactics have failed in other countries and will only worsen Nigeria’s crisis.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also weighed in, accusing the government of allowing terrorists to operate like an “alternative government.” He said the release of abducted schoolchildren should not be celebrated, arguing that the ability of criminals to negotiate with state officials shows weakness, not success.
Atiku questioned why security agencies did not arrest the kidnappers if they had tracked them in real time, calling the situation “a national embarrassment.” According to him, Nigerians deserve real security, not media statements that downplay the severity of the crisis.
