‘Your Children Are Doing Fine And Will Be Back Soon,’ NSA Ribadu Tells Parents Of Kidnapped St. Mary’s Pupils
National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu has assured anxious parents of the kidnapped St. Mary’s Catholic School pupils that their children are safe and will soon return home, offering a rare public update on the ongoing rescue efforts.
Ribadu gave the assurance on Monday during a closed-door meeting with parents and school authorities in Abuja. The children, whose exact number authorities have not yet disclosed, were abducted last week by gunmen who attacked the school premises and escaped with the pupils.
According to officials present at the meeting, Ribadu told the parents that intelligence reports indicate the children are alive and in stable condition. He reassured them that the military, police, and intelligence agencies were coordinating closely to ensure their safe recovery.
“Your children are doing fine. They will be back soon,” Ribadu was quoted as saying. “We are deploying all necessary resources to bring them home safely. Please remain strong.”
The NSA reportedly urged parents to avoid sharing unverified information on social media, noting that such actions could jeopardize ongoing operations. He also promised more frequent briefings as security teams advance in their mission.
The abduction has sparked widespread outrage and renewed national concern over school kidnappings, which have continued despite government efforts to strengthen security around vulnerable institutions. Civil society groups and religious leaders have called for urgent reforms, improved intelligence gathering, and harsher penalties for kidnappers.
Parents leaving the meeting expressed mixed emotions—relief at Ribadu’s assurances but continued worry as the days stretch on without their children’s return.
One mother, who asked not to be named, said, “It comforts us to hear they are fine, but we just want them home. Every hour feels like a week.”
Security authorities have not provided a timeline for the pupils’ rescue but insist that negotiations and tactical operations are progressing.
The St. Mary’s kidnapping adds to the growing list of student abductions across northern Nigeria, a trend that has placed schools, families, and communities under immense pressure. The government has reiterated that it will not relent until all children are rescued and those responsible are apprehended.