WALIN GANYE SPEAKS OUT: Condemns Mass School Abductions in Niger, Kebbi and Zamfara

Calls for Prayers, Unity, and National Support for Government Efforts**

Nigeria is once again thrust into mourning and national anxiety as a fresh wave of coordinated school abductions hits Niger, Kebbi, and Zamfara States, deepening an already fragile security situation and reigniting urgent calls for decisive national action.

In Niger State, armed men stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, abducting more than 300 students, teachers, and staff in what has become one of the largest mass kidnappings in recent years. This grim tragedy comes on the heels of a separate attack in Kebbi State, where 25 schoolgirls were taken from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, leaving parents devastated and communities traumatised. In Zamfara, sporadic incursions and bandit-linked movements have intensified fears that organised criminal networks are coordinating deadly operations across state borders.

As the nation grapples with these escalating threats, prominent elder statesman Alhaji Sadiq Mohammed, the Walin Ganye, has broken his silence, issuing a strong rebuke against the perpetrators and a heartfelt message to Nigerians.

Describing the attacks as “a direct assault on our children and an affront to the conscience of our nation,” the Walin Ganye condemned the repeated targeting of educational institutions, noting that no country can progress when its young ones become prey in the very spaces meant to shape their future.

> “These abductions are an unforgivable tragedy. My heart goes out to the parents, teachers, and families who are now living through unimaginable pain. Our thoughts and prayers are firmly with them,” he said.

Alhaji Sadiq Mohammed urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the rising tension and uncertainty. He called for sustained prayers for peace, divine intervention, and the complete exposure of those orchestrating the violence.

> “This is a time for spiritual strength. We must continue praying earnestly for the end of this evil and for the revelation of all those behind these attacks,” he emphasised.

The Walin Ganye expressed confidence in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, acknowledging the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen nationwide security operations, deploy additional forces, and intensify intelligence-driven responses across the North-West and North-Central regions.

He appealed to citizens to rally behind the government and security agencies, stressing that national unity and cooperation are indispensable in winning the war against insecurity.

> “Government alone cannot defeat this menace. The support, vigilance, and cooperation of all well-meaning Nigerians are urgently required. We must stand together, speak with one voice, and work collectively toward restoring peace,” he said.

Security forces have since launched intensified search-and-rescue missions across affected territories, while state governments adopt emergency measures to protect schools and vulnerable communities. Yet, the fear remains palpable as Nigerians wait anxiously for positive news and the safe return of the abducted children and their teachers.

For now, the nation stands united in grief — but also in determination. The message from the Walin Ganye is clear: Nigeria must neither despair nor divide. Instead, it must pray, unite, and support every legitimate effort aimed at ending the scourge of insecurity once and for all.