They Died Waiting: Parents’ Heartbreaking Wait For Abducted Children Ends In Tragedy

The parents of pupils and students of St. Mary Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara local government area of Niger State, have been plunged into deep emotional and psychological trauma. This is as the heartbreak of their children’s abduction has already claimed the lives of two parents, who were confirmed dead as a result of the stress and anguish.

Just four days after the abduction of pupils from St. Mary Catholic School in Papiri, the community received the heartbreaking news of the death of a helpless, confused, and demoralised father, Mr.  Anthony Musa, whose three children were among the recently 265 victims  later released by the bandits.

His death was confirmed by the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna.

According to an update released to the media on Wednesday, Mr. Musa reportedly died of a heart attack, a tragic outcome of the trauma and anxiety he endured while waiting for news of his children’s safety. The Bishop described his death as a stark reflection of the psychological toll that the abduction inflicted on parents.

Sadly, after Musa, the Diocese also announced the death of a woman whose child was also abducted and was yet to be released.  While her identity was not officially disclosed, LEADERSHIP Sunday findings revealed that she had fallen ill after learning of her child’s kidnapping and passed away  a day after Mr. Musa’s death. Though the exact cause of her death was not medically stated, sources suggested that she may also have succumbed to a heart attack brought on by grief and distress.

Relatives say the parents’ final days were defined by anxiety that never eased. They prayed, waited and clung to hope even as the uncertainty ate away at their strength. Neighbours recall how they sat outside their homes long into the night, listening for footsteps, refusing food, whispering prayers, and asking anyone passing by if there was an update.

Church leaders in their  communities describe them as “physically present but emotionally broken individuals crushed by the unbearable silence that  surrounding their children’s fate.

When the children were finally rescued, the community erupted in relief ,  but the families of the two deceased  parents were left with a pain no celebration could soften.

“They carried the fear alone for too long, a neighbour said. Their hearts simply couldn’t wait anymore. Their deaths now stand as a haunting reminder that the cost of insecurity is often carried not only by the abducted, but by the parents who wait, hope, suffer ,  and sometimes never live to see the end of the ordeal.

Recall that on Friday, November 21,  heavily armed bandits on over 100 motorcycles and three cars stormed St. Mary Catholic School, Papiri, shooting indiscriminately as they forced staff, pupils, and students into the forest.

After the attack, parents were gripped by intense trauma and anxiety, living in constant fear for the safety of their children. The ordeal took a heavy toll on both their physical and mental health, with some suffering serious complications as the weight of uncertainty and dread wore them down day by day.

When the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, which owns the school in Papiri, released the names and classes of the abducted pupils and students, Nigerians were gripped by shock and sorrow. The children, ranging from ages 4 to 15, were at a vulnerable and formative stage of life. Some were as young as Nursery One, barely able to care for themselves. The thought of children so young being subjected to the uncertainty and potential cruelty of their captors was almost unbearable, a reality that any parent can only imagine without breaking down.

The stories of what abducted children endure at the hands of bandits, as reported in the past, are enough to break even the strongest person psychologically and emotionally. The very thought of these young children being forced to trek for several kilometres through the forest, often going days without proper food,  left many parents and Nigerians at large shattered and overwhelmed by fear.

This is why many believe that the parents who have now passed away as a result of the Papiri Catholic School abduction struggled to cope with the hopeless situation and the immense emotional toll, visiting the school daily and clinging to every fragment of hopeful news about their children.

The chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), North and FCT Abuja, Rev. John Hayab, confirmed the death of Anthony Musa in a television interview. He said, “One of the parents of the abducted children from the school is dead.  Mr. Anthony died of a heart attack following the abduction of his three children.

He added, “People do not understand that when you tell it as it is, you’re not speaking against anybody; you are only trying to state the problem. The pain and trauma are still very fresh. We tried speaking to the parents , and they were too scared to talk to us. When I spoke to the leadership of the church, it was truly a very sad situation.

While speaking further on the death of Mr. Anthony, he said, “You can imagine, the man was in shock because he could not explain what was happening to his three children. These were children who were used to waking up in the morning to brush their teeth, have breakfast, a tea break or lunch depending on the school system, and then dinner. In  fact, the deceased parents fees days to their passing  didn’t sleep properly, refused to eat regularly, and didn’t even taken their baths. You can imagine what they were going through.”

He added that the parents were naturally worried because they could not say exactly where their children were or what they were enduring at the hands of the bandits.

Mr. Philip Musa, the elder brother of Anthony Musa, who had been with him throughout the ordeal, said, “It was evident that my brother broke down with every passing day, and as the hours went by, he endured sleepless nights, hoping to see his children return.”

He added that the experience of his brother was difficult to imagine, as he often felt lonely and believed that nobody was doing enough to rescue his three children.

Philip also expressed concern for his sister-in-law, saying that her condition worsened as she was consumed by the grief over the abduction of her children and the death of her husband.

Martha Mathias, a teacher at the school whose husband had been abducted along with some of the children, said the burden of having children in the hands of bandits was heavier than that of an adult.

She explained that the parents were truly traumatized and recalled, “If the bandits had not changed their minds and left us behind, I would have faced an even greater trauma than the one I felt, knowing my husband had been abducted and that we were powerless as they bundled him into the forest. Only God knows what they went through”

Martha said the bandits had intended to take her as well, even pointing a gun at her little child as they tied her husband, but after hearing the child’s cries, the bandits decided to leave her and her child behind and took her husband instead.

She added that there were many similar pitiful situations, as parents continued to gather at the school daily, hoping for news of their children’s rescue.

Prior to their release, the parents of the abducted children endured immense hardship, deferring to the volatile security situation and risking their lives as they waited endlessly in Papiri, clinging to hope. The ordeal took a severe toll on their health.

The Most Reverend Yohanna had earlier decried the lack of security personnel in the area following the incident. He consistently briefed the parents and offered them hope, but even his efforts could not ease the grief of the two parents who lost their children.

These parents were left to cope largely on their own, without adequate government presence, while grappling with deep emotional trauma.

Security and intelligence expert Dr. Yunusa Musa Yebom emphasised the need for caution in dealing with the parents, particularly regarding their emotional and mental well-being. He stressed that this is crucial to how the government engages with the bandits for the safe rescue of the children.

Dr. Yebom suggested that the government should establish clear communication channels with the parents and involve psychologists to provide ongoing emotional support as the rescue operations continue.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bagoon also made efforts to support the affected families. He consistently encouraged the parents to remain calm, assured the public that security agencies were leaving no stone unturned, and promised that the children would be rescued unharmed.

The relief was somewhat tempered when some of the children were recovered and reunited with their families, while efforts continued to rescue the remaining children. Unfortunately, these reassurances did little to comfort the grief-stricken parents.

Similarly, Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, during a visit to Niger State, stressed the need for united action. He observed that the nation faces serious security challenges and expressed concern about the boldness of criminal networks, particularly in Niger State.

He described the St. Mary’s School abduction as both troubling and heartbreaking, emphasizing that Niger State is too important to Nigeria to not receive priority attention.

The IGP confirmed that security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, continue to lead the rescue operations, noting that 50 children have already been recovered. He revealed that additional tactical resources have been deployed and intelligence operations expanded to ensure the safe recovery of the remaining children and teachers.

He also appreciated the support of the state government, traditional leaders, and other stakeholders, affirming that the Nigeria Police Force will not allow criminals to succeed in their cruel agenda.

LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that the Diocese in Kontogora has begun tracing the parents and plans to hold a meeting with them this weekend. The wait has been long and emotionally taxing, and more parents may collapse if their trauma is not properly addressed.