One hundred and thirty schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have regained their freedom.
The schoolchildren were reportedly released on Friday at a location between Agwara and Borgu local government areas of the state, following what authorities described as a military-intelligence-driven operation.
They are expected to arrive in Minna on Monday to reunite with their parents ahead of the Christmas celebration.
Confirming the development, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said: “The remaining 130 schoolchildren abducted by terrorists at St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, on November 21, have now been released. They are expected to arrive in Minna on Monday and rejoin their parents for the Christmas celebration.”
Onanuga added that: “One hundred were released earlier by the terrorists, taking the total of freed students to 230. The freedom of the schoolchildren followed a military-intelligence-driven operation.”
The abduction happened on November 21 when heavily armed gunmen stormed the school on motorbikes, carting away 315 persons — made up of 303 students and 12 teachers — in an operation that reportedly lasted about three hours.
The incident sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of schools in Nigeria’s rural communities.
Within the first 24 hours of the attack, 50 pupils managed to escape, while 265 abductees, including all 12 teachers, remained in captivity. On December 7, the Federal Government announced that 100 students had been secured and released.
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