Niger gov receives remaining 130 abducted Catholic students, staff
Niger State’s Governor, Umaru Bago, has welcomed back the remaining students and staff taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, located in the Agwara Local Government Area.
According to Channels TV, the freed individuals were officially returned to the governor on Monday by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, who was represented by Major General Adamu Laka.
During the handover, Laka stated that security forces have been working diligently since the kidnapping to ensure the safe recovery and return of the students and staff.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to policies aimed at ensuring the rights and safety of every Nigerian child, emphasizing that security agencies will persist in their efforts to protect lives and property nationwide.
Governor Bago, visibly moved while accepting the victims, expressed his appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the NSA for their prompt intervention and decisive measures that resulted in the successful rescue.
The Federal Government confirmed the pupils and staff's release on Sunday.
In a statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, noted that this latest release signifies the conclusion of the rescue operations following the November 21 attack on the school.
“The retrieval of the remaining 130 children and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger State, symbolizes a fitting conclusion to the year,” he stated.
On November 21, 2025, over 300 pupils, teachers, and other staff members were kidnapped when armed individuals invaded the school in the early morning hours, arriving on motorcycles and moving through dormitories before taking their captives into nearby forests.
Shortly after, the Christian Association of Nigeria revealed that 50 children managed to flee during the assault, while many others were captured.
In response to the abduction, the Federal Government established a security perimeter around neighboring communities.
President Bola Tinubu dispatched ground troops and conducted aerial surveillance across portions of Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states to locate the kidnappers.
He also canceled an official trip to focus on the rescue efforts, while authorities ordered the temporary closure of schools across Niger State and several federal institutions in high-risk regions.
On December 7, the Federal Government announced that 100 of the kidnapped pupils had been released, and they were welcomed by Governor Bago at the Government House in Minna.
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