The national leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), led by its President, Oladoja Olushola GCNS, has completed a two-day working visit to Niger State following the recent abduction of students of St. Mary’s School in Papiri. The visit was organised to assess the situation on ground and to reaffirm the association’s commitment to the safety and welfare of students across the country.
Upon arrival, the NANS delegation held a closed-door meeting with the Niger State Director of the Department of State Services. During the meeting, the students’ body demanded intensified security operations and clearer intelligence strategies to fast-track the rescue of the remaining abducted students. The leadership also received updates from the DSS on ongoing efforts to secure their safe return.
The NANS team then met with various student structures and leaders in the state, gathering firsthand accounts from those directly affected by the tragic incident. The association noted that these engagements were vital in understanding the realities students face, especially those schooling in communities prone to security breaches.
Following the consultations with students, the NANS executives proceeded to the Government House in Minna, where they met with Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago. The delegation expressed appreciation to the governor for the recently announced ₦2.5 billion scholarship scheme for Niger State students, describing it as a timely investment in education amid rising insecurity.
During the meeting, the NANS leadership also sympathised with families of the abducted students and commended the state government for ensuring the release of some of the children. They urged the governor to sustain all ongoing rescue operations until every missing student is safely reunited with their families.
Governor Bago, in his response, stated that his administration’s primary concern at this time is securing the safe return of all remaining abducted students. He stressed that this was not the moment for blame trading but a period for collective action, assuring the NANS leadership that no effort was being spared in tackling the situation.
The governor further highlighted several measures being implemented to strengthen school security across the state. According to him, the government is working closely with security agencies to prevent future attacks on schools and to restore confidence among students, parents, and educators.
During the visit, NANS also appealed to the Niger State Government to drop all charges against Senator Isah Mokwa. Although they did not elaborate publicly on the specifics of the case, the association stated that the request was in line with their broader consultations aimed at stabilising the education environment in the state.
The national delegation on the mission included the NANS Senate President, Comrade Usman Adamu Nagwaza; Vice President (External Affairs), Kenechukwu Aneke; Director of Travels and Exchange, Kelvin Nduka; and Clerk of the Senate, Hope Vyonku. Others were the Chief of Staff, Malam Ibrahim Ibrahim; Director of Planning and Strategy, Ambassador S. A. Lukman; Chief Press Secretary, Oyewole Michael Oludare; and Director of Gender Affairs, Kenneth Victory.
In a statement issued after the visit, NANS Secretary-General, Comrade Anzaku Shedrack Ovye, emphasised that the association remains unwavering in its commitment to defending the interests of Nigerian students. He noted that the Papiri abduction highlights once again the urgent need for stronger school protection systems nationwide.
The secretary-general added that the association would continue to monitor developments in Niger State and engage with relevant authorities until all abducted students are safely recovered. He called on the federal and state governments to prioritise school security infrastructure, especially in rural communities where students remain highly vulnerable.
NANS concluded by reiterating that the wellbeing of Nigerian students remains its highest priority. The leadership urged all education stakeholders to work together to ensure that no child is denied access to safe and uninterrupted learning due to insecurity.
