Tragedy has struck the families of some of the students abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri village, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, as two parents have reportedly died.
The heartbreaking news comes amid ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining students.
One of the deceased has been identified as Anthony Musa, a father whose untimely death has added to the anguish of the local community.
The identity of the female parent, however, remains unknown, as authorities have been unable to reach her family for confirmation.
The development was confirmed on Tuesday in Minna, the state capital, by the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, through his media aide, Daniel Atori.
The bishop, who is also the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and proprietor of the school, expressed his condolences to the affected families.
Commenting on the deaths, the bishop said, “The man Anthony Musa died of heart attack but the female we don’t have the details yet because we couldn’t get the family.” His statement underscores the deep emotional toll the abduction incident has had on parents, school staff, and the wider community.
Authorities and church leaders continue to monitor the situation closely while urging calm and prayers for the safe return of the abducted children.
Meanwhile, the incident has reignited concerns about the security of schools in rural areas of Niger State and the broader need for protective measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
