The remaining students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have reportedly regained their freedom.
A security official familiar with the rescue operation confirmed to Premium Times that the latest release accounts for all the victims taken during the attack on the school on 21 November.
While the exact number of the newly freed abductees could not be independently confirmed at the time of this report, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication and spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, confirmed that “130 pupils have regained their freedom.” He added, “Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” in a brief post on X on Sunday.
The victims were taken after gunmen attacked the boarding school, an incident that triggered widespread outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of schools nationwide. The attackers reportedly stormed the boarding school on motorcycles at about 2:00 a.m., moving systematically from one dormitory to another before marching their captives into nearby forests.
Days later, the Christian Association of Nigeria disclosed that 50 of the children escaped during the raid, while numerous others were taken away. Following the abduction, the Federal Government imposed a security cordon around border communities and deployed ground troops and aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states to track the kidnappers.
President Bola Tinubu also cancelled an official trip to oversee rescue efforts, while authorities ordered the temporary closure of schools across Niger State and some federal institutions in high-risk areas. On December 8, security agencies secured the release of about 100 abductees, leaving an unspecified number in captivity until the latest breakthrough.
The reported release of 130 abductees brings the total number of rescued victims to 230. Sources told Premium Times that the freed students and teachers are currently being transported to Minna, the Niger State capital, where they are expected to undergo medical checks and reunite with their families.
However, as of the time of this report, neither the Federal Government nor the Niger State Government has issued an official statement on the development.
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