_By Adesakin Adefemi_
_November 29, 2025
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by President Oladoja Olushola GCNS, has concluded a two-day mission to Niger State following the abduction of pupils from St. Mary’s School, Papiri.
The delegation’s visit underscores the urgency of securing the safe release of the captives amid rising insecurity in the region.
In a direct engagement, NANS met with the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Niger State, pressing for accelerated intelligence operations and tactical interventions to rescue the students. “We charged them to do more—no excuses, no delays,” said Comrade Anzaku Shedrack Ovye, CNS Secretary General, emphasizing the association’s zero-tolerance stance on student safety.
The leadership also convened with student representatives from Niger State, gathering harrowing accounts of the abduction’s impact on academic life. “We heard their fears, their resilience. This is personal,” Ovye stated, vowing NANS’ sustained advocacy.
Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago received the NANS team, expressing sympathy for the victims’ families and thanking the association for acknowledging the state’s ₦2.5 billion scholarship initiative “It’s not time for blame games—our priority is getting all students home, safely, unharmed,” he affirmed.
Bago outlined ongoing measures: reinforced checkpoints, night patrols, and collaboration with federal agencies to deter further attacks. “We warned schools in high-risk areas to close—St. Mary’s reopened. It was avoidable,” he noted, urging responsible actions.
303 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity. NANS lauded the release of some hostages but demanded faster efforts, as police opened a register for victim documentation.
The association also pleaded with the state government to drop charges against student activist Sen Isah Mokwa_, fostering dialogue over litigation.
In a broader appeal, Bago called on youths to harness social media for patriotism, not panic. NANS vowed nationwide campaigns, sensitizing campuses and lobbying authorities. “The interest of Nigerian students is our apex priority,” Ovye reiterated.
