The crushing weight of Nigeria’s relentless abduction crisis took a fatal toll this week, moving the tragedy beyond the fear of capture and ransom to the pain of actual loss.
Rev. John Hayab, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the Northern Region and the FCT, has revealed a devastating consequence of the recent attack on St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State: one of the parents died of a heart attack following the abduction of his three children.
Speaking to ARISE News on Tuesday, Rev. Hayab brought a stark, human face to the systemic failure of security plaguing the nation, confirming that the sheer shock and trauma are now killing parents alongside the despair.
When Shock Becomes Fatal
The victim, simply identified as Mr. Anthony, was reportedly overwhelmed by the news that three of his children were among the dozens seized from the Catholic school.
“People want to see concrete action. Imagine a mother or a father whose daughter… one of the parents (Mr. Anthony) of these girls picked in the school, died yesterday of a heart attack because three of his children are victims,” Hayab stated, detailing the immediate, physical reaction to unimaginable grief.
The parent’s death underscores the hidden, yet profound, trauma impacting families across Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states—regions that have been relentlessly targeted by bandits and terrorists over the past week.
Hayab noted the desperate state of the community, where the victims’ siblings and remaining family members are left in perpetual fear.
“The pains and the trauma are still very fresh. We tried speaking to the parents today, and they were scared of speaking to us.”
The sheer scale of the St Mary’s abduction highlights the urgency. While 50 senior students reportedly returned after fleeing into the bush, over 265 students remain unaccounted for, most aged between nine and 14.
The ordeal is agonizingly tangible. “These children have not slept, they have not bathed, and their parents cannot even explain where they are,” Hayab stressed, painting a painful picture of the trauma inflicted on the young victims.
Action, Not Statements: The Security Critique
While the CAN leadership welcomed the recent release of 24 schoolgirls from Kebbi State—a positive step confirmed by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga—Hayab insists that the general security situation remains critically exposed, with Nigerians needing “concrete action, not statements.”
Reports from locals around the Niger State abduction site indicated a disheartening reality: no visible security presence.
Hayab was unsparing in his critique, arguing that Nigeria possesses the manpower to defeat these terror groups, but resources are consistently misallocated.
“The onus is now on the Nigerian security agencies to ensure that we don’t speak about this on television. People want to see concrete action.”
He pointed directly to the imbalance in security deployment: “A large chunk of those who are supposed to secure Nigerians are securing VIPs. Many police officers are guarding banks.”
The Chairman argued that banks should employ private security, thereby freeing up professional police officers for the vital task of protecting vulnerable citizens and schools in rural areas. “When proper deployment is done, we will be able to get rid of these things. We have what it takes, but we are not deploying it.”
A Glimmer of Hope Amidst the Despair
In a potentially significant move aimed at addressing this very issue, President Bola Tinubu issued a directive on November 23rd ordering the immediate withdrawal of police officers assigned to VIP security across the country.
This directive was swiftly followed by an order from the Special Protection Unit of the Nigeria Police Force for all attached officers to return to their bases. If rigorously implemented, this measure could dramatically re-adjust the security deployment ratio and provide the necessary personnel to secure flashpoints across the North.
However, for families like that of Mr. Anthony, action cannot come fast enough. A traumatic week has left leaders, security forces, and the entire populace worried and angry.
The heartbreak of losing three children led to the untimely death of a father who simply could not bear the shock. This tragedy must serve as a final, urgent warning: when the state fails to protect its citizens, the costs extend far beyond the ransom note—they devastate families, kill parents, and erode the very foundation of national trust.
The immediate priority remains the safe return of the dozens of children still missing, and a full commitment from the government to deploy every available resource to ensure such a debilitating week never repeats itself.
