130 Abducted Nigerian Schoolchildren and Staff Released, Authorities Say

Nigerian authorities say 130 schoolchildren and staff abducted from a Catholic school in Niger state last month have been released, ending weeks of uncertainty following one of the country’s largest recent school kidnappings. Officials said the release followed a security operation, though details remain limited and questions persist over earlier discrepancies in the reported numbers.

Release confirmed by police and presidency

Police in Nigeria’s north-central Niger state said on Sunday that all remaining captives from the November 21 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community had been freed.

Wasiu Abiodun, the Niger State police spokesperson, said in a statement that “a total number of 130 victims including the staff have been released.” He described them as the final group still in captivity following the mass abduction.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga also confirmed the development in a post on X, saying the “remaining 130 schoolchildren abducted” had been released and would arrive in Minna, the state capital, on Monday. He added that the children were expected to reunite with their parents ahead of Christmas.

Another presidential aide, Sunday Dare, separately said none of the abducted schoolchildren remained in captivity.

Confusion over total number abducted

The original attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School involved one of the largest school raids reported in Nigeria in recent years. Gunmen stormed the school late on November 21, seizing at least 303 pupils and 12 teachers, according to initial police figures.

In the hours after the attack, around 50 students managed to escape. Earlier this month, authorities said 100 schoolchildren had been freed, leaving uncertainty about the fate of others.

When asked on Sunday about 35 schoolchildren and several teachers who were previously described as unaccounted for, Abiodun told The Associated Press that “further details will be communicated.” Officials did not immediately clarify whether earlier figures were revised or whether all teachers were included in the latest release count.

Military operation cited, details withheld

The presidency said the release followed a “military intelligence-driven operation,” but, as is typical in such cases, did not provide further details on how the captives were freed or whether arrests were made.

Nigerian authorities rarely disclose operational specifics in kidnapping cases. Analysts and security experts say this opacity reflects the sensitive nature of negotiations and operations, as well as the widespread belief that ransom payments are often involved. The government maintains that it does not pay ransoms, though it rarely addresses such claims directly.

No armed group has claimed responsibility for the Niger state abduction.

Pattern of mass kidnappings in northern Nigeria

The Papiri school attack was part of a broader surge in mass abductions across northern Nigeria, particularly in rural areas with limited security presence. Armed criminal gangs — locally known as bandits — frequently target schools, highways and villages, abducting victims for ransom.

Just four days before the Niger state raid, at least 25 schoolchildren were abducted from a school in Maga town in neighboring Kebbi state. Around the same period, gunmen attacked a church in southern Kwara state, abducting 38 worshippers. Those captives were later released.

The repeated targeting of schools has prompted widespread fear among parents and educators, leading some state governments to close schools temporarily or reinforce security around educational facilities.

Political pressure and international attention

President Bola Tinubu’s administration has faced mounting domestic pressure to curb kidnappings and restore security, particularly in regions affected by banditry and insurgency.

The Niger state abduction also drew international attention. U.S. President Donald Trump recently accused Nigerian authorities of failing to protect Christian communities, alleging that Christians were being specifically targeted in the country’s security crisis. Nigerian officials have rejected claims of religious targeting, saying criminal gangs are motivated primarily by ransom payments rather than ideology.

Rights groups and analysts note that while victims often come from Christian institutions such as churches and mission schools, Muslim communities across northern Nigeria have also been heavily affected by kidnappings.

Ongoing security challenge

Despite repeated military operations and pledges by successive governments, mass abductions remain a persistent problem in Nigeria’s north and northwest. Weak law enforcement presence, difficult terrain and economic hardship have allowed criminal networks to operate with relative impunity.

Arrests in large-scale kidnapping cases are rare, and prosecutions even rarer, contributing to a climate of fear and mistrust in affected communities.

For families of the Papiri school victims, the release brings relief after weeks of anxiety. However, the broader challenge of protecting schools and civilians in Nigeria’s conflict-affected regions remains unresolved.