Nigerian authorities say they have secured the release of the remaining 130 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in the country’s central Niger state, bringing an end to one of the worst mass abductions in recent years.
The federal government described the development as a “moment of triumph and relief” after months of uncertainty surrounding the fate of those taken from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri on 21 November.
More than 250 children and staff were abducted in the raid. Earlier this month, about 100 of the children were released, raising hopes that negotiations or rescue efforts were progressing. Authorities have now confirmed “the rescue of the remaining 130 children and staff,” stating that “not a single pupil is left in captivity.”
Niger state police chief Adamu Abdullahi Elleman said in an interview that those freed were being medically examined by security forces and would be taken back to the school on Monday to reunite with their families.
Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Catholic cleric in charge of the region, also confirmed the release. He said the local governor had contacted him directly and “asked me to come and receive them.”
Parents in Papiri have reacted with relief and joy. Abdullahi Rofia, a local emergency worker, said families were in high spirits and expected to gather at the school to welcome the children home.
Confusion Over Numbers and Ongoing Security Concerns
On Sunday, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the total number of freed students now stood at 230. However, since the kidnapping, there has been persistent confusion over how many people were initially taken and how many remained in captivity.
On 8 December, authorities announced the release of 99 children and one teacher, suggesting that at least 165 others were still being held. But police chief Elleman said the 130 newly released individuals account for all remaining abductees, disputing earlier figures provided by the school’s management.
Officials have not disclosed how the latest release was secured or whether any ransom was paid. When a previous group was freed, Abdullahi Sule indicated that the federal government had played a key role, though he said details of the operation could not be made public for security reasons.
Images shared by the presidency showed children smiling and waving, with the students expected to arrive in the Niger state capital, Minna, on Monday.
A Pattern of School Abductions in Nigeria
The kidnapping at St Mary’s Catholic School is part of a broader pattern of attacks on schools and places of worship across northern and central Nigeria. Armed groups have increasingly targeted students in mass abductions, often with the aim of securing ransom payments.
The Papiri attack followed a series of similar incidents. On 18 November, two people were killed and 38 abducted in an attack on a church in Kwara state. A day earlier, two people were killed and 25 Muslim students abducted from a secondary school in Kebbi state. All victims from those attacks have since been freed.
The Christian Association of Nigeria said that about 50 students managed to escape during the initial raid on St Mary’s, highlighting the chaos of the attack.
While no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, analysts widely believe criminal gangs are behind the abductions, exploiting weak security in rural areas.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to strengthen school safety, saying on 9 December that his government would continue working with state authorities “to secure our schools and make the learning environment safer and more conducive for our younger ones.”
The safe return of all the abducted children marks a rare positive outcome in Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with mass kidnappings, though concerns remain about the persistence of such attacks and the vulnerability of schools across the region.
