Pope Francis Reacts To Abduction Zamfara Students

Pope Francis has reacted to the abduction of schoolgirls in Zamfara State by bandits, describing it as a “vile” abduction.

AllNews Nigeria earlier reported that over 300 schoolgirls were abducted from their hostels in Government Girls Junior Secondary School in Jangebe, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State in the early hours of Friday and taken into the forest by suspected bandits.

Reacting to the Abduction, Pope said; “I join the bishops of Nigeria in condemning this vile abduction of 317 young girls,” the pope said following his weekly Sunday Angelus address to the Catholic faithful on Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

“Let us pray for these girls, so that they may return home quickly.”

READ ALSO: Zamfara Abduction: Security Operatives, Vigilantes On Trail Of Abductors

Despite rumors and speculations about their release, the girls are still being held by the heavily armed criminal gangs operating in northwest and central Nigeria, who have recently stepped up attacks in kidnapping for ransom, raping and pillaging.

Several other girls are still being held by Islamic sects, Boko Haram, operating in the North East. Most of the girls were abducted from their schools and taken to different locations in the forests.

Meanwhile, AllNews Nigeria reports that Governor of Zamfara, Bello Mohammed Matawalle has promised that his administration will do everything within its power to secure the release of the abducted Jangebe schoolgirls.

In his latest comment on the incident, Matawalle vowed to return the girls to the warm embrace of their respective families.

The governor made the vow while receiving the council of 17 Emirs who paid him a sympathy visit on Sunday.

He assured that in spite of everything, his government will never stop the peace process it has initiated with bandits, adding that it is still the best option for finding lasting peace in the state.

“Any sabotage to the efforts we are making in the state is sabotage to the efforts of the Federal Government. The world knows our boundaries and the world knows our successes”, the governor stated.