After one month in captivity, the Federal Government of Nigeria has secured the release of the remaining 130 school children abducted by terrorists at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed the release of the schoolchildren in a post on his handle late on Sunday.
Recall that about one hundred of the children were released earlier by the terrorists, taking the total of the freed students to 230.
Onanuga further disclosed that the freedom of the schoolchildren followed a military-intelligence driven operation.
According to him, the children are expected to arrive in Minna on Monday and rejoin their parents for the Christmas celebrations.
TheFact Daily had reported that the gunmen stormed the school hostel at about 2a.m on Friday, November 21, 2025 and whisked the students away.
According to the Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG), Abubakar Usman, the attack occurred despite earlier intelligence reports indicating heightened security threats in parts of Niger North Senatorial District.
He explained that the government—based on the intelligence—had ordered the suspension of all construction activities and the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the affected zone.
He however, noted that St. Mary’s School reopened and resumed academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the government, thereby exposing pupils and staff to danger.
Nigeria has been battling security challenges, but is now collaborating with the United States government to rid the country of terrorists and bandits.
