A wave of relief swept over Niger State as the latest group of 130 remaining kidnapped schoolchildren and teachers from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government, were freed from captivity.
The released children, who had been held by their captors for almost a month, were mostly younger pupils compared to the first 100 rescued and officially handed over to Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago by the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The abductees, who arrived in six buses, were welcomed back with open arms by Governor Bago and other senior government officials at a brief ceremony in Government House, Minna, thereby ending weeks of uncertainty and trauma over their fate.
In an interaction with some teachers, who were visibly elated, they praised God, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Rev Dr Bulus Yohanna, government authorities, and security agencies for their efforts towards their safe return.
According to one teacher, who requested not to be named, “All I can say now is that God has heard our prayers and I know everyone has been praying for us too.
“We kept saying one prayer, that God should help so that we can be reunited with our families and spend Christmas with them.”
Another teacher decried the kidnapping of the schoolchildren, particularly the younger pupils.
“Some of these children are too young to be abducted, but thank God we are back alive,” he stated.
The latest release brings the total number of rescued students to 230.
Recall that a total of 315 students, including 12 teachers, were abducted on Friday, November 21, 2025, according to Bishop Bulus Yohanna at the time.
He stated that of this number, 50 escaped and reunited with their families on Sunday, November 22, 2025, leaving a total of 265 in captivity.
