The remaining students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have reportedly been released.
A security source familiar with the rescue operation confirmed to Premium Times that the latest development accounts for all those taken during the attack on the school on November 21. While the exact number of those newly freed could not be independently verified, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, confirmed that 130 pupils have regained their freedom.
“Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” Dare wrote on X on Sunday.
The abduction occurred when armed attackers stormed the boarding school in the early hours of the morning, sparking widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of educational institutions across the country. During the incident, some students reportedly escaped, while others were taken into nearby forest areas.
In the aftermath, the Christian Association of Nigeria disclosed that about 50 students managed to flee during the attack. The Federal Government subsequently tightened security around border communities and launched a coordinated rescue operation.
President Tinubu ordered the deployment of ground troops and aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states to track the perpetrators. He also suspended an official trip to personally oversee rescue efforts, while authorities temporarily shut down schools in Niger State and some federal institutions located in high-risk areas.
On December 8, security agencies secured the release of about 100 abductees, leaving an undisclosed number still in captivity until the latest breakthrough. With the release of the additional 130 victims, the total number of rescued students and teachers now stands at 230.
Sources said the freed victims are being transported to Minna, the Niger State capital, where they will receive medical attention and reunite with their families. As of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Government nor the Niger State Government had issued an official statement on the development.
