It is with a heavy heart that I, *Alhaji Umar B Ibrahim (Shamakin Lemu)*, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of *Al‑San Ryder Project Concept Ltd.*, address the people of Niger State and all Nigerians.
The brutal abduction of schoolchildren and teachers from Papiri in Agwara Local Government Area has left a deep scar on our community. I extend my deepest sympathy to the parents of the abducted pupils and to the families of the teachers. Your pain is shared by every citizen, and my prayers are with you for the safe and swift return of every child and educator held captive. May Almighty God grant you patience, strength and comfort in this difficult time.
We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this heinous attack on our schools places that should be safe havens for learning and hope. Such violence is an affront to the values we hold dear and a grave violation of human rights. The perpetrators must be identified and brought to justice without delay.
I call upon all security operatives—the Nigeria Police, the Department of State Services, the military and local vigilante groups—to intensify their efforts and spare no resource in securing the safe release of the abducted. I also urge traditional leaders, religious figures, civil‑society organisations and every well‑meaning citizen to lend their support, information and prayers to this noble cause.
Furthermore, I implore the State and Federal Governments, along with all relevant stakeholders, to redouble their commitment to ending the wave of banditry, kidnappings and communal violence that has plagued our communities. We must rally around His Excellency, the Farmer Governor *Mohammed Umaru Bago*, Turakin Nupe, whose leadership is crucial in this hour. The recent directive to close all schools in the state is a necessary precaution to protect our children while security operations are underway.
Let us unite in prayer, in action and in solidarity, so that no other child or teacher suffers such a fate again.