The Federal Government has confirmed the release of 130 schoolchildren who were abducted during an attack on St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwarra Local Government Area of Niger State.
The confirmation was given on Sunday by a presidential spokesman, Mr. Sunday Dare, who announced that all the pupils earlier held by the abductors had regained their freedom, with none remaining in captivity.
The disclosure was made via his official social media platform, where he shared images indicating the safe return of the children.
The release marked a major development following the mass abduction that occurred in the early hours of November 21, when gunmen stormed the Catholic mission school and took away pupils, teachers and other staff members.
The incident sparked nationwide and international outrage, adding to growing concerns over school safety and insecurity across the country.
Following the attack, reports indicated that the assailants arrived in large numbers and operated for several hours before fleeing with their captives.
The Niger State Government had condemned the incident and announced the temporary closure of boarding schools within the affected areas as a precaution, although school authorities disputed prior warnings.
In the days after the abduction, the Christian Association of Nigeria disclosed that some of the abducted children had escaped on their own, while the Federal Government intensified security operations across Niger and neighbouring states.
Measures included aerial surveillance, security cordons and the indefinite closure of schools in high-risk zones.
President Bola Tinubu also suspended a planned foreign trip to personally oversee efforts aimed at resolving the crisis.
Earlier this month, the Federal Government secured the release of 100 of the abducted pupils, who were formally handed over to the Niger State Government and received by Governor Umaru Bago at the Government House in Minna.
The abductions drew condemnation from within and outside Nigeria, as similar incidents were reported in other states, including Kebbi and Borno.
The renewed wave of kidnappings further heightened international scrutiny of Nigeria’s security situation.
With the latest release, authorities said efforts would now focus on rehabilitation of the freed children and strengthening security around educational institutions to prevent future occurrences.
