Federal government has secured the release of 100 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State, two weeks after armed assailants raided the school.
Gatekeepers News reports that according to security sources cited by local media, the children are now safe. The handover to government and local officials is expected shortly after the release.
The tragedy began on 21 November 2025, when gunmen on motorcycles stormed the school around 2:00 a.m. in a raid lasting about three hours. In that attack, 315 people; 303 students and 12 teachers were seized from dormitories and whisked into the forest.
In the first 24 hours after the kidnapping, 50 pupils managed to escape and return to their families. Until the recent release, 265 persons including students and all 12 teachers were held.
The rescue followed an intense military and security operation. This included deployments by police and military tactical units, coordination with vigilante groups and community hunters in forest zones, and aerial surveillance across Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.
As the crisis unfolded, the government imposed a 24-hour security cordon around the affected region and ordered the indefinite closure of all schools in Niger State. Several federal institutions in high-risk areas were also shut down.
The national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, visited the families of the victims and the school’s proprietor, Bulus Yohanna of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State, assuring them that all efforts remain focused on securing the release of all remaining abductees. He affirmed that the freed children are safe and promised continued efforts for the rest.
As of now, authorities have not clarified whether the release came from negotiations or a force operation, and the whereabouts of the remaining 165 abducted individuals are still unknown.
