Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, has said he shares in the anguish of parents whose children were abducted from St. Mary Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area.
Speaking at an eight-day executive retreat for commissioners-designate, chairmen-elect, special advisers and permanent secretaries, held at Government House, Minna, the governor—represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba—said the government was working assiduously to ensure the safe rescue of the pupils and staff.
It was earlier reported that 265 children and staff of the school remain in captivity after gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked the school on November 21, shooting sporadically and injuring security guards before marching the victims into the forest.
Addressing participants at the retreat themed “Whole Governance, a Collaborative Effort for Development: The Road to a New Niger,” the deputy governor said:
“Before we go deep into the sessions ahead, I must speak from the heart on a matter that concerns us all. The unfortunate abduction of schoolchildren and teachers at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government, is highly condemnable and has left our state deeply worried.”
He added:
“As the chief security officer of the state and a parent myself, I feel the pain of every mother and father anxiously waiting for their children to return home. Let me assure you that we are committed to the safety of the children and to ensuring the security of lives and property in the state.”
He reminded parents and residents that the government was working relentlessly to secure the release of the abducted pupils and staff.
Bago also charged members of the incoming cabinet, newly elected local government chairmen and permanent secretaries to work collectively to deliver the “New Niger” vision of his administration. He urged them to provide clear leadership as the state seeks to position itself as a leading agro-industrial hub contributing significantly to national food security and sovereignty.
He emphasised innovation, bold policy implementation and disciplined governance as key expectations, noting that the retreat would strengthen leadership capacity, strategic planning, fiscal discipline, people-centred service delivery and performance evaluation.
Earlier, the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, said the retreat was organised to enhance collaboration and build a unified sense of purpose among top government officials as the administration advances its New Niger Agenda.
