The Federal Government has secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, following a mass kidnapping that shook the nation two weeks ago.
According to available reports, the 100 pupils regained their freedom on Sunday.
The attack happened in the early hours of 21 November 2025, when armed gunmen stormed the school at about 2:00 a.m. on motorbikes, raiding dormitories and abducting a total of 315 persons — 303 students and 12 teachers — over a nearly three-hour operation.
Within the first 24 hours, 50 pupils escaped and reunited with their families.
But the verification exercise carried out by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, confirmed that 265 persons, including 253 children and all 12 teachers, remained in captivity following the initial escape.
Reports emerging on Sunday said that 100 of the abducted pupils have regained their freedom. The fate of the remaining 153 pupils and 12 teachers is still unknown.
On Monday, the freed children were conveyed under tight security by several buses to the Government House in Minna, arriving around 5:20 p.m. There they were received by the state Governor, Umaru Bago, top government officials and family members.
The pupils were said to have spent roughly two weeks in captivity before the release. The original abduction included 315 persons.
In a statement, the Presidency said the release of the 100 students was a result of prompt efforts by security agencies.
Bola Tinubu, while expressing joy over the safe return of the children, directed security forces to work for the swift release of the remaining captives.
“From now on, our security agencies, working with the governors, must prevent future kidnappings. Our children should no longer be sitting ducks for heartless terrorists intent on disrupting their education and subjecting them and their parents to unspeakable trauma,” the statement read.
President Tinubu assured the parents that both the federal and the Niger State governments are working closely to reunite all the abducted students with their families.
“The Federal Government will continue to work with Niger State and other states to secure our schools and make the learning environment safer and more conducive for our young ones,” he said.
- Federal Government Secures Release of 100 Abducted Schoolchildren - December 8, 2025
- Court Rejects Nnamdi Kanu’s Request for Immediate Transfer from Sokoto Prison - December 8, 2025
- President Macron Pledges Stronger Security Partnership with Nigeria - December 8, 2025