The Federal Government is receiving support from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and other countries in its efforts to tackle insurgency and rescue abducted students, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, has disclosed.
Ribadu spoke on Monday during a visit to St Mary Catholic School in Papairi, Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State, where 265 students and teachers were recently kidnapped.
He delivered a message of hope from President Bola Tinubu and reassured parents that efforts to secure the students’ release were intensified.
“You are not alone, I can assure you we are together in this. Many good people from all over the world are coming to support us, including the United States of America. We appreciate everyone especially the European countries like France, the United Kingdom and couple of others. The whole world is coming together to stop and defeat this evil which has been going on in Nigeria for two decades,” he said.
The NSA assured parents that the abducted children were safe and would return soon. He emphasisd that Nigerians must unite to defeat the common enemy causing havoc in the country.
“The children are where they are and will come back safely. God is with them and God is with us. Evil will never win. They are going to come back, I give you the assurance. Mr. President said I should thank you, Bishop Yohanna, for your understanding, patience, for giving us the right information and by standing by for us. We are one.”
He expressed President Tinubu’s commitment to security, adding that his visit was on Tinubu’s order.
“This is a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that we must come and visit you. Mr. President is in pain. He is in sorrow just like all of us.
He stopped everything he was doing and he was supposed to travel but he suspended his journey. Enough is enough, we will not relent in our efforts, we are all under attack, let us not allow bad people to divide us, let us not allow evil to get into us.”
He said the Federal Government accepted blame for the schoolchildren’s kidnap.
“This is a very solemn and difficult moment for us, especially after hearing from some of the parents and all of you. However, we take responsibility because it is our duty to protect you,” Ribadu said.
Ribadu added: “We will provide security in that axis. You will see our reactions and responses now, one thing I know is that, evil people will always be around but this thing they have done is what will change Nigeria for good.”
Ribadu commended Bishop Bulus Yohanna of the Kontagora Diocese for standing firm despite the challenges surrounding the abduction.
Earlier, Bishop Yohanna thanked President Tinubu and Ribadu for giving hope amid the crisis.
After the visit, he presented hard copies of reports to the NSA, following which a closed-door meeting lasting about 30 minutes took place.
The Principal of the school, Rev. Sister Felicia Gyang, and a representative of the parents, Mr. Luka Iliya, recounted how the abduction occurred and shared their current states of mind.
Accompanying Ribadu were the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Bernard Doro; the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi; and the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Northern Nigeria, Rev. Joseph Hayab.
