President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the return of 100 students abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, and has issued a fresh directive to security agencies to not only rescue all remaining hostages but also prevent similar attacks across the country.
In a statement issued on Monday through his media aide, Bayo Onanuga, the President condemned the rising trend of school kidnappings and insisted that Nigerian children must no longer be exposed to avoidable danger.
“Our children cannot continue to serve as easy targets for ruthless criminals bent on disrupting their education and inflicting terror on families,” the President said.
He added that all abducted Nigerians children and adults alike must be accounted for and brought home safely.
Tinubu praised the security operatives involved in securing the release of the 100 pupils, describing their efforts as “tireless and commendable.”
He however, reminded the agencies that dozens of children and teachers remained in captivity and that securing their release must remain a top priority.
He also assured parents that the Federal Government is working closely with Niger State to ensure that every abducted student reunites with their family soon.
The President emphasised that going forward, law enforcement and state authorities must reinforce the security architecture around schools and ensure that learning environments are safe.
The abduction occurred on November 21, 2025, when armed men invaded St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, a remote community in Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State.
A total of 315 individuals, 303 students and 12 teachers were taken during the attack.
Fifty pupils managed to escape on the first day, reuniting with their families.
Until this weekend, 265 people remained in captivity.
The release of 100 students on Sunday now leaves 165 children and teachers still held by the kidnappers.
Governor Umaru Bago received the 100 rescued children at the Niger State Government House on Monday evening.
The pupils were formally handed over to the state by representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Bago expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for the coordinated federal response that led to the breakthrough.
He reassured anxious parents that efforts to secure the remaining children were ongoing and urged citizens to keep praying for their safe return.
The governor also appealed for calm, saying the state government would continue working with federal authorities to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.
