Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago has received the last group of schoolchildren and staff who were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area during a mass kidnapping in November.
Gatekeepers News reports that the remaining 130 rescued students and teachers were handed over to the Governor on Monday in Minna, concluding the release of all those taken in the attack.
The final batch was officially turned over by representatives of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), with Major General Adamu Garba Laka acting on behalf of NSA Nuhu Ribadu.
At the ceremony, Laka reaffirmed that security agencies had worked relentlessly since the abduction to locate and free the captives, underscoring the Federal Government’s resolve to protect the rights and safety of every Nigerian child.
Governor Bago, clearly emotional as he greeted the rescued children and staff at the Government House, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser for their decisive actions that helped secure the victims’ freedom.
He also thanked the security forces for their persistence and the public for their prayers and support throughout the ordeal.
The Papiri abduction on 21 November 2025 saw armed gunmen storm the Catholic school in the early hours, seizing hundreds of pupils and staff. Security sources say more than 315 people were initially taken, including students and teachers, while about 50 children escaped soon after the attack.
Earlier in December, around 100 of the abductees were released and received by Governor Bago, leaving the final group to be freed in the recent operation.
Authorities and residents alike have welcomed the news that none of the schoolchildren remain in captivity, describing the moment as a relief ahead of the festive season and a fitting end to the year.
Officials have noted that the freed children are expected to be reunited with their families after health assessments and debriefing.
