Picture: The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Rev. Bulus Yohanna and parents of the children in Kontagora with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

The Federal Government has raised the hopes of parents and the authorities of St. Mary’s Private Catholic primary and secondary school, Papiri in Agwara local government area of Niger state.

Ribadu expressed the optimism when he visited the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of the school, Rev. Bulus Yohanna and parents of the children in Kontagora, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu said efforts are in top gear to ensure a swift recovery of the abducted students.

While delivering President Bola Tinubu’s message of hope and assurance, Ribadu asked Nigerians to join hands and defeat the common enemy causing havoc in the country.

The Principal of the school Rev. Sister Felicia Gyang and a representative of the Parents Mr. Luka Iliya narrated how the incident happened including the ongoing trauma they face while urging the government to do all it can to secure the safe return of the abducted students.

• Image : Governor Ododo

A truck carrying building materials this morning crushed four schoolchildren and injured several others at Egbolo, Igalamela-Odolu Local Government Area.

The accident occurred at about 8:30 a.m. Villagers wailed uncontrollably as the bodies of the victims were pulled from under the truck.

The pupils were reportedly on their way from Egbolo to Ofuloko when the truck lost control while struggling to climb a hill on the Idah route.

Residents who barricaded the road expressed anger and frustration, lamenting that the community lacks a functional school forcing their children to trek long distances through dangerous routes just to attend classes in neighbouring villages.

One grieving parent who lost his son accused the government of abandoning Egbolo for years.

He appealed for urgent intervention to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

At the scene, the Federal Road Safety Corps had yet to arrive as some pupils remained trapped under the overturned vehicle at the time of filing this report.

Some of the injured children have been rushed to a nearby hospital, while the bodies of the deceased have been taken home by the community for burial.

•Governor Dikko Radda

The convoys of Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda , and his Deputy, Faruk Lawal Jobe, were yesterday involved in a separate road accidents.

The accidents resulted in four deaths and left ten others with varying degrees of injuries.

A statement issued by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary confirmed that the Governor’s convoy recorded two incidents in Matazu and Charanchi Local Government Areas while returning to Katsina after a tour of several communities.

The accident in which the Deputy Governor’s convoy were involved occured accident along the Zaria–Kaduna highway, where six people including Buhari Ahmad of Katsina State Radio sustained injuries.

The statement adds that Governor Dikko Radda has condoled with the families of the deceased and assured citizens that his administration will continue to strengthen support systems that protect lives and ensure timely response during emergencies.