Nigeria Secures Release of Final 130 Schoolchildren from Mass Abduction

Timeline of the Ordeal

Nigerian authorities say they have secured the release of the remaining 130 schoolchildren and staff kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in November, bringing an end to one of the country's worst recent mass kidnappings. The federal government described the development as a "moment of triumph and relief."

Nov. 21, 2025: More than 250 children and staff were abducted from St Mary's Catholic school in Papiri, located in the country's central Niger state. The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 50 students managed to escape during the initial attack.

Early Dec. 2025: Approximately 100 of the children were released. A neighboring state governor noted the federal government's key role but stated that details of the operation couldn't be disclosed for security reasons.

Dec. 21, 2025: The final 130 children and staff are confirmed to have been rescued.

Official Confirmation and Lingering Questions

In a statement on Sunday, presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed the rescue, saying "not a single pupil is left in captivity." He noted that the total number of freed students now stands at 230. The announcement was accompanied by pictures of smiling children, who are expected to arrive in Minna, the Niger state capital, on Monday.

However, it has not been formally made public how the government secured the release, nor whether a ransom was paid. The lack of transparency on the methods used leaves critical questions unanswered about the state's strategy for handling such crises.

The resolution of this crisis comes after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's pledge on December 9th that his government would "continue to work with Niger and other states to secure our schools." The successful release of all St Mary's students will be seen as a significant achievement, but it also underscores the immense security challenge his administration continues to face.