By Palang Paul
The Federal Government has successfully secured the release of 100 children abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
According to a report by Channels Television, the children were part of the 315 people—303 students and 12 teachers—kidnapped when armed bandits stormed the remote school community on November 21, 2025.
The attackers, who arrived on motorbikes around 2:00 a.m., reportedly operated for nearly three hours. They moved from one dormitory to another, seizing students and teachers before marching them into the surrounding forests.
Although 50 students managed to escape within the first 24 hours, at least 265 victims, including 253 children and all 12 teachers, remained in captivity, triggering a nationwide outcry and a major security response.
In reaction to the mass abduction, the Federal Government imposed a 24-hour security lockdown across vulnerable border communities and deployed ground forces alongside aerial surveillance to parts of Niger, Kebbi and Kwara States.
President Bola Tinubu also cancelled planned international trips to directly oversee the rescue operations. Authorities subsequently ordered the shutdown of all schools in Niger State, along with several federal institutions in high-risk areas.
The release of 100 of the abducted children marks a significant breakthrough for security agencies, although hundreds more remain unaccounted for. Efforts to rescue the remaining victims are still ongoing.
Post Comment