Relief swept through Papiri community in Niger State on Sunday as the remaining 130 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School were released, bringing to an end weeks of fear, anguish and uncertainty for families and residents.
Officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser confirmed the development to ARISE News, stating that the final batch of victims was freed following sustained security operations, coordinated intelligence efforts and mounting pressure on the abductors.
With the latest release, all 230 pupils and staff members kidnapped during the November 21, 2025 attack on the Catholic boarding school have now regained their freedom.
The gunmen had stormed the school in the early hours, whisking away scores of pupils and staff in an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the persistent targeting of educational institutions by criminal gangs.
Security sources said the successful rescue marked a major breakthrough, even as they declined to disclose details of the operation.
According to officials, the strategy relied on continuous security pressure and close collaboration among relevant agencies.
“The release ends days of anxiety and anguish for the families and the wider community,” a security official said, adding that efforts were intensified to ensure that all victims were brought home safely.
Earlier this month, 100 abductees were freed in batches, raising cautious optimism among parents and church authorities. Confirming the earlier release, the Congregation Leader of the OLA Sisters, Sr. Mary T. Barron, had expressed mixed emotions, celebrating the freedom of some victims while lamenting the continued captivity of others at the time.
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St. Mary’s Catholic School is managed by the OLA Sisters and owned by the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, under the Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province.
Meanwhile, the latest development has reignited calls from civil society groups, parents and education stakeholders for stronger protection of schools, particularly in vulnerable communities across the country.
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