The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Niger State authorities said they have not been officially notified of the release of 100 schoolchildren who were abducted last month.
According to a report by Reuters, the Nigerian government also did not immediately comment.
CAN had said that 303 children and 12 school staff were kidnapped on November 21 by gunmen at St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri, Niger State.
It later said 50 pupils managed to escape in the following hours, but since then there had been no update on the whereabouts or conditions of the other children, some as young as six, and the missing school staff.
“We are not officially aware and have not been duly notified by the federal government. We hope and pray it’s true and will be looking forward to when the remaining will be released,” said Daniel Atori, spokesperson for the head of CAN in Niger State told Reuters
The school attack put a spotlight on the persistent insecurity in Nigeria more than 10 years after the Chibok mass abductions, at a time when the country is under scrutiny from US President Donald Trump over its alleged ill-treatment of Christians.
Earlier on Sunday, a US congressional delegation met with Nigeria’s national security adviser Nuhu Ribadu in Abuja, where “discussions focused on counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability and strengthening Nigeria-US security partnership,” Ribadu said.
