Nigerian authorities have confirmed the successful release of all remaining schoolchildren and staff kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Boarding School, Papiri, in Niger State, bringing a tragic episode to a close and sparking nationwide relief.
In a statement on Sunday, the Federal Government announced the rescue of the remaining 130 abducted pupils and teachers, declaring that “not a single pupil is left in captivity.” The government described the development as a “moment of triumph and relief”, following what has been described as one of the worst mass school kidnappings in Nigeria’s recent history.
The abduction occurred on 21 November, when armed assailants stormed the Catholic boarding school in Papiri, carting away more than 250 students and staff in a coordinated overnight attack. The incident sent shockwaves across the country and renewed concerns over the safety of schools, particularly in northern and central Nigeria.
Earlier this month, security forces secured the release of 99 children and one teacher, raising hopes but leaving uncertainty over the fate of many others. Conflicting figures at various stages made it difficult to determine the exact number of those still in captivity. However, Niger State Police Commissioner Adamu Abdullahi Elleman clarified that the 130 persons freed in the latest operation account for all remaining abductees, attributing earlier discrepancies to inaccurate figures initially provided by the school authorities.
Speaking to the BBC, Elleman said the freed students and staff were undergoing medical and security examinations and would be transported back to their school on Monday, where they are expected to be reunited with their families.
“They are currently being examined by security forces and will be taken to their school tomorrow to reunite with their families,” the police chief said.
The Catholic Church also confirmed the development. Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the cleric overseeing the region and the school, said he was personally contacted by the Niger State Governor, who informed him of the release and asked him to come and formally receive the children and staff.
Across Papiri, emotions ran high as parents and community members received the news. Abdullahi Rofia, a local emergency worker, told the BBC that parents were in high spirits and were preparing to gather at the school to welcome back their children.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga earlier announced that the total number of freed students now stood at 230, noting that the remaining victims had finally been secured. He shared photographs showing smiling children waving, a visual confirmation that brought comfort to many Nigerians who had followed the ordeal closely. The students are expected to arrive in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Monday.
Despite the positive outcome, authorities have not disclosed how the release was secured or whether a ransom was paid. When the first batch of students was freed, the Governor of neighbouring Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, acknowledged that the Federal Government played a major role, but emphasized that operational details could not be made public for security reasons.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also revealed that 50 students managed to escape on the night of the abduction, reducing the number of those initially held by the kidnappers.
The Papiri kidnapping is part of a disturbing pattern of attacks on schools and places of worship in northern and central Nigeria. Just days before the St. Mary’s incident, gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State, killing two people and abducting 38 worshippers. A day earlier, two people were killed and 25 Muslim students abducted from the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State. All victims from both incidents have since been released.
While no group has officially claimed responsibility for these attacks, security analysts widely believe they are carried out by criminal gangs motivated by ransom payments, rather than ideological extremism.
Reacting to the spate of abductions, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had, on 9 December, reiterated his administration’s commitment to safeguarding schools across the country.
“We will continue to work with Niger and other states to secure our schools and make the learning environment safer and more conducive for our younger ones,” the president said.
The full release of the Papiri abductees marks a significant victory for Nigeria’s security agencies, but it also underscores the urgent need for stronger preventive measures, improved intelligence, and sustained efforts to protect vulnerable communities from criminal violence.