By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Pope Leo on Sunday expressed “deep” sadness over kidnapping of school girls and Christian clerics in various states in the northern region of Nigeria, urging for their immediate release.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the kidnappings of priests, faithful, and students in Nigeria and Cameroon. I feel great pain, especially for the many young men and women who have been abducted and for their anguished families,” Pope Leo said at the end of a mass in St. Peter’s Square.
Militants had earlier in the week kidnapped students and teachers from St. Mary’s school in the northwest state of Kebbi and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said the latest in a spate of school attacks has forced the government to shut 47 colleges.
On Friday, similar abduction was also reported in the North Central state of Niger, causing tension among parents and guardians who panic over the precarious environment under their children study.
The Christian Association of Nigeria on Saturday said it estimates that at least 315 persons have been kidnapped as against earlier 227, following a “verification exercise”.
But saddened by the development, the Pope made a passionate appeal for the release of those abducted.
“I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take appropriate and timely decisions to ensure their release,” he added.
“Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope.”
At a dinner in Abuja on Saturday, former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana expressed concern over the escalation in insecurity in recent days, urging the President Bola Tinubu-led administration to intensify efforts to bring security concerns under control.
He said bandits may have been pressured to abduct school children as human shield in response to a threat by US President, Donald Trump to launch a military operation in Nigeria’s territory over what he called Christian genocide in Nigeria.
