After Verification, CAN Puts Number of Abducted Students, Teachers in Niger School Attack at 315

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*Debunks allegation that school ignored security reports

*Gov Bago orders all schools closed till New Year

Dipo Laleye in Minna

The total number of victims abducted by suspected terrorists from the St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri in the Agwarra Local Government Area (LGA) of Niger State is now 315 from the 227 earlier reported, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

CAN has also debunked the allegations by the Niger State Government that the school reopened without government clearance despite a prior directive suspending boarding activities in the area.
The Chairman of the Niger State chapter of CAN, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is also the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, gave the update after a verification exercise and a final census was carried out.

The update comes as the state Governor, Mohammed Bago, has directed that all schools across the state should be shut down until after the New Year while the schools in security affected areas in the state will be shut down until further notice.
A breakdown of newly released data showed that 303 students and 12 teachers were affected.

Yohanna said, “After we left the school at Papiri, we decided to make calls, do a verification exercise, and do further enquiries on those we had thought escaped successfully, only to discover that 88 more students were also captured after they tried to escape.
“Our attention was drawn to when some parents whose children we had thought escaped from the attack also came asking about their children. We became curious, and that was when we did a census and discovered that they were abducted.
“This now brings it to a total of 303 students (male and female), including 12 teachers (four females and eight males), bringing the total number of abducted persons to 315.”
He said the total of pupils and students before the incident was 629, with primary having 430 and the secondary having 199 students.

He also addressed the widely reported notion that there were intelligent reports before the abduction.
He debunked the allegations by the Niger State Government that the school reopened without government clearance despite a prior directive suspending boarding activities in the area.
“Also, it is very pertinent that we address the issue of prior warnings from either the government or security agencies, as peddled in some quarters.

“I have just got back to the village this night after I visited the school where I also met with parents of the children to assure them that we are working with the government and Security agencies to see that our children are rescued and brought back safely but was gritted with what I term “propaganda” that the school was given a prior warning by the government through a circular.
“That is not true, we did not receive any circular, it must be an afterthought and a way to shift blame. In the past, around 2022, when we heard of rumours of a security challenge, we did not hesitate; we shut down immediately. Is it when there is a circular from the government asking us to shut down that we will now not obey?” he queried.

According to him, the affected school is owned by the Catholic Diocese and not any individual, as earlier reported.
“The school is owned by the Catholic Diocese and not by any individual. None of the Reverend Sisters travelled to Abuja as they alleged. Whoever made that misleading statement should know that it is a false allegation and should withdraw such or provide the proofs and evidence.

“We have asked the Education Secretary if he received a circular, he said no; or if he was asked to send any to us, he said no. We asked if he was verbally informed, and he also said no. Let them tell the world who they gave the circular to, or through what channel they sent it.

“We also asked the National Association of Private Schools, and they did not get any such circular. They claimed the school was shut down and reopened a few days ago, which is also not true. We are law-abiding.”

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Trump on Fox News, Says Nigeria Failed to Protect Citizens

•Prosecute those behind attacks on Christians, Italian PM tells FG

•US congressman, Moore, urges FG to disarm Middle Belt militants

•Tinubu meets DSS DG, restates commitment to eliminate terrorists

Ejiofor Alike in Lagos and Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

United States President, Mr. Donald Trump, has doubled down on his claim that there is Christian genocide in Nigeria, describing the country as a disgrace and accusing the federal government of failure to protect the citizens.

The US President made the remarks on Fox News Radio’s ‘The Brian Kilmeade Show’ on Friday night.

This is just as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called on the federal government to take decisive action against the perpetrators of the attacks on Christian communities.

In the same vein, United States Congressman, Riley Moore, has called on the federal government to urgently confront armed groups in the Middle Belt following the kidnapping of more than 300 children and 12 teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State on Friday.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has received security briefing from the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi and restated his commitment to eliminating terrorists and bandits in the country.

Tinubu also insisted that insecurity remains the most troubling challenge facing Nigeria, especially the Northern region.

Trump had, on November 1, threatened military action in Nigeria over an alleged persecution of Christians.

The US president had earlier, in a message on social media, acknowledged the atrocities that Christians in Nigeria faced daily and accused radical Islamists of being responsible for the mass slaughter of Christians.

He also declared Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).

But the Nigerian government rejected the Christian genocide claim, insisting that there is no religious persecution in the country.

During his first tenure, Trump had declared Nigeria a CPC, but President Joe Biden lifted the CPC designation in 2021.

But despite the pushback by the Nigerian government, Trump doubled down on his attacks on Nigeria on Friday, accusing the country of failing to protect Christians.

The US President made the remarks on Fox News Radio’s ‘The Brian Kilmeade Show’, said: I think Nigeria is a disgrace. The whole thing is a disgrace.

“They’re killing people by the thousands. It’s a genocide. And I’m furious about it.”

“And we pay, you know, we give a lot of subsidy to Nigeria, which we’re going to end up stopping.

“The government’s done nothing. They are very ineffective. They’re killing Christians at will. And you know, until I got involved in it two weeks ago, nobody even talked about it,” he added.

Trump’s comments came a few hours after a high-level delegation of Nigerian security leaders, led by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, met with some American government officials, including the Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to discuss ways to stop violence in Nigeria.

In an update provided by the Special Assistant to the Secretary of War on Public Affairs and Senior Advisor, Sean Parnell, both leaders discussed ways to make tangible progress on stopping violence against Christians in Nigeria and combating West African jihadist terrorist groups.

“Secretary Hegseth emphasised the need for Nigeria to demonstrate commitment and take both urgent and enduring action to stop violence against Christians and conveyed the Department’s desire to work by, with, and through Nigeria to deter and degrade terrorists that threaten the United States.”

Prosecute Those Behind Attacks on Christians, Italian PM Tells FG

Meanwhile, the Italian Prime Minister, Meloni, has called on the federal government to take decisive action against perpetrators of attacks on Christian communities.

In a statement posted on X, Meloni condemned the latest outbreak of violence, describing the attacks as heinous and unacceptable.

According to an online medium, she also urged the government to intensify security measures and ensure those behind the killings are brought to justice.

“We strongly condemn the renewed violence that took place today against Christian communities in Nigeria,” she wrote.

“Religious freedom is an inviolable right: we ask the Nigerian government to strengthen the protection of Christian communities and all religious communities and to prosecute those responsible for these heinous attacks.”

The Italian leader said her country stands in solidarity with the families affected and communities living in fear as a result of religiously targeted violence.

“Italy expresses all its closeness to the victims and to the communities in Nigeria who today feel in danger because of their religious beliefs,” she added.

US Congressman Moore Urges FG to Disarm Middle Belt Militants

Meanwhile, United States Congressman Moore has called on the federal government to confront armed groups in the Middle Belt urgently.

In a statement posted yesterday on his X handle, Moore expressed outrage over the reported attack on a Catholic school in Niger State.

“As a father, seeing these attacks makes my stomach turn.”

He urged authorities to intensify efforts against those he accused of carrying out the violence, saying the government “must disarm the radical Muslim Fulani militants terrorising the Middle Belt.”

The congressman further alleged that violence targeting Christians in the country is worsening.

“The persecution of Christians in Nigeria is escalating out of control. I believe it is now a genocide,” he wrote.

He called for closer cooperation between Abuja and Washington to curb insecurity, saying, “It is up to the Nigerian government to work with the United States to stop the killings and kidnappings of our brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Moore warned that continued attacks could prompt action from the US administration.

“This human tragedy has to end, or else, @POTUS has made it clear that he will take action to stop this tragedy,” he added.

Tinubu Restates Commitment to Eliminate Terrorists, Bandits

In a related development, President Bola Tinubu has restated his commitment to eliminating terrorists and bandits in the country, insisting that insecurity remains the most troubling challenge facing Nigeria, especially the Northern region.

He said urgent efforts were required to rebuild trust, strengthen unity and restore safety across communities.

Tinubu, represented by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Tajudeen Abbas, spoke at the 25th anniversary of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the launch of its Endowment Fund.

The president said insecurity must be tackled decisively to prevent further economic decline and educational setbacks.

Tinubu said, “Nothing troubles me more gravely than the security crisis bedevilling Nigeria, especially Northern Nigeria.

“We cannot prosper when one limb of the national body is paralysed.”

He said his administration inherited complex security challenges but was addressing them with “urgency and determination.”

The president said that the government was committed to eliminating terrorist and bandit groups operating in the North and reversing the region’s economic decline.

He expressed optimism about Northern Nigeria’s economic prospects, saying he looks forward to the day crude oil tankers begin to roll out from Kolmani and other northern oil fields.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, met with President Tinubu to brief him on the country’s security situation following recent abductions and attacks, especially in the northern region of the country.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the meeting in a post yesterday, noting that Ajayi met with the president at the Presidential Villa on Friday night.

Photos released showed the DSS Chief in the president’s office.

Although no further details of the briefing’s outcome were provided, officials said it focused on the current security situation.

“The Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Mr. Tosin Adeola Ajayi, briefed President Bola Tinubu on the security situation on Friday night,” Onanuga wrote.

The federal government has established a joint task force involving all security agencies to comb the northern region for abducted schoolchildren.

Tinubu had earlier ordered the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State to coordinate rescue efforts.

•Prosecute those behind attacks on Christians, Italian PM tells FG •US congressman, Moore, urges FG to disarm Middle Belt militants •Tinubu meets DSS DG, restates commitment to eliminate terrorists Ejiofor

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At G20 Leaders’ Summit, Tinubu Demands Fair Handling of Global Financial Flows, Recurring Debt Crises

*Canvasses equity in global mineral trade, AI governance

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

President Bola Tinubu yesterday asked world leaders to come up with a more equitable and responsive system to manage global financial flows and sincerely address the recurring debt crises in a manner that meets the needs of all nations.
Tinubu also canvassed a global framework that benefits communities hosting critical minerals in Nigeria and Africa, ensuring value addition at the source.

This is coming just as Nigeria also backed the creation of global ethical standards for Artificial Intelligence (AI), aimed at accelerating development across the world.
Tinubu made the call at the Third Session of the 2025 Group of 20 (G20) Leaders’ Summit, held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, South Africa, themed “A Fair and Just Future for All: Critical Minerals, Decent Work, Artificial Intelligence.”
The president, who was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, stressed that for Nigeria and Africa, critical minerals are more than natural deposits, as they hold the promise of industrial transformation for the continent.

Tinubu has asked world leaders to come up with a more equitable and responsive system to manage global financial flows and sincerely address the recurring debt crises in a manner that meets the needs of all nations.
This, he said, had become necessary because many developing countries still grapple with systemic barriers restraining economic growth, as well as weakening trade and limiting financial inclusivity.

The president regretted that the multilateral frameworks, currently being relied on, no longer reflect the complexities of the present world, as they were “built in an era far removed from” the present challenges,
Tinubu pointed out that this year’s theme of the summit, bordering on “inclusive and sustainable economic growth, trade, financing for development and the debt burden, speaks to the realities of developing nations.”

Demanding a fair deal for Africa and other developing countries of the world, he stated: “For trade to be truly inclusive, the G20 must take bold and deliberate steps towards reforming the international financial architecture and the global institutions that sustain it.

“Only a more equitable and more responsive system can manage global financial flows with fairness, address recurring debt crises with sincerity and meet the needs of all nations, especially those in the Global South who have too often stood at the margins of global opportunity.”
The president said it would be difficult for Africa to realise a positive paradigm shift “in its development trajectory without a collective resolve of the G20,”

He noted that the continent cannot rise on the wings of aspiration alone without confronting the persistent regional challenges confronting it, particularly “the urgent need for sustainable financing to ensure the effective implementation of our developmental priorities.”
Tinubu observed that rising debt burdens have continued “to drag economies back into cycles of fragility,” transforming “local difficulties into global vulnerabilities.”
Accordingly, he implored the G20 to place debt sustainability and the responsible utilisation of critical minerals at the heart of its agenda for inclusive development.

“The G20 must, in adopting the Leaders’ Declaration, take with utmost seriousness the responsibility to advance policies that drive sustainable growth, promote financial inclusion and confront emerging risks,” the president added.
Tinubu emphasised that while the possession of resources alone does not guarantee prosperity, relevant authorities and stakeholders must ensure that the extraction and trade of critical minerals are governed by fairness, transparency, and accountability.

Tinubu explained that such responsible extraction and trade are necessary to ensure that the wealth generated from hosting communities translates into shared progress.
On artificial intelligence, which has immense potential to accelerate development globally, the President said the task before G20 leaders, development partners, and governments is to ensure that AI remains a servant of humanity, not a force that reshapes society at the expense of those it ought to uplift.

According to him: “Nigeria supports the creation of global ethical standards for AI that uphold safety, transparency, and equity,” the President said, adding, “We must ensure that AI becomes a tool of empowerment, not exclusion; of job creation, not displacement.”

To harness AI’s job creation and empowerment potential, Tinubu called for deliberate partnerships between developed and developing nations, between the public and private sectors, and between innovation and inclusion.

“The G20 must therefore address systemic bias and foster sustained multilateral dialogue to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared equitably and its risks responsibly managed,” he added.

The president noted that within a broader vision of shared responsibility and global stewardship, critical minerals, decent work, and artificial intelligence are bound by a single calling, which is to shape an economy that uplifts rather than excludes; an economy that measures its strength not only by growth but by the dignity it affords every human being.

He urged the G20 leaders and partners to build a future where Africa is not merely a supplier of raw materials, but a continent of value creation, innovation, and dignity in work.

*Canvasses equity in global mineral trade, AI governance Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu yesterday asked world leaders to come up with a more equitable and responsive system to