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Nigerian authorities have confirmed the release of the remaining 130 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic boarding school in the country’s central Niger State, bringing relief after one of Nigeria’s worst mass kidnapping incidents.
In a statement, the federal government described the development as a “moment of triumph and relief,” confirming that all students and staff taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri on November 21 have now been freed.
More than 250 children and staff were abducted during the attack. Earlier this month, about 100 of the kidnapped students were released, leaving uncertainty over the fate of those still in captivity. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announced on Sunday that the total number of freed students now stands at 230, adding that “not a single pupil is left in captivity.”
Authorities have not disclosed how the latest release was secured, nor whether any ransom was paid. However, Onanuga shared images of the rescued children smiling and waving, with the students expected to arrive in the Niger State capital, Minna, on Monday.
Following the earlier release, Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule told local media that the federal government played a key role in the rescue efforts, though details could not be made public for security reasons. The Christian Association of Nigeria also reported that about 50 students managed to escape during the initial abduction.
The November kidnapping was part of a worrying trend of attacks on schools and places of worship in northern and central Nigeria. Just days before the St. Mary’s incident, two people were killed and 38 abducted from the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State, while another attack saw two people killed and 25 Muslim students kidnapped from a girls’ secondary school in Kebbi State. All victims from those attacks have since been released.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility for the kidnappings, analysts believe criminal gangs seeking ransom payments are largely behind the attacks.
On December 9, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated his government’s commitment to working with state authorities to secure schools and ensure safer learning environments for children across the country.
