Nigerians welcome freed students and teachers after mass school abduction

MINNA, Nigeria (Journos News) – Nigerians on Monday welcomed 130 schoolchildren and teachers released after a mass abduction in north-central Niger state. Gunmen seized the group during a predawn attack on a Catholic school about a month ago, in one of the country’s largest school kidnappings.

Officials presented the children and teachers at a government event in Minna, the state capital. Authorities said they were preparing to reunite them with their families before Christmas.

First public appearance after captivity

Several children looked weak as they arrived, with some showing signs of shock and exhaustion. Police said the group was freed on Sunday, weeks after the attack on the school in Papiri community in the Rafi area of Niger state.

Authorities first said more than 300 students and 12 teachers were taken, while dozens escaped shortly after the raid. On Monday, Niger state Governor Mohammed Bago revised the figures. He said about 230 people had been abducted and confirmed that all had now been released.

Such gaps in early reports are common after large attacks in remote areas. Poor communications and panic during raids often make it hard to confirm numbers.

Conflicting figures, unanswered questions

Officials did not explain how the captives secured their release. They also declined to say whether a ransom was paid, a sensitive issue in Nigeria where kidnappings for ransom are widespread.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Local residents blamed armed criminal gangs that operate across much of northern Nigeria. These groups often target schools, highways, and rural communities for kidnappings.

The school said most of the abducted children were aged between 10 and 17. One student who escaped earlier told The Associated Press that the attackers threatened to shoot the children during the raid to force them to comply.

School kidnappings and Nigeria’s security crisis

School abductions have become a recurring symbol of Nigeria’s wider security problems, especially in the north. Weak state presence, poverty, and the spread of small arms have allowed criminal violence to grow.

Hundreds of students have been kidnapped in similar attacks over the past decade. In response, some states have closed schools temporarily or shifted to remote learning in high-risk areas.

Security forces have rescued some victims, but many releases follow negotiations involving families, local leaders, or intermediaries. The pattern has drawn international concern and repeated calls for better protection of schools.

Government response and next steps

At Monday’s event, Maj. Gen. Adamu Garba Laka, national coordinator of Nigeria’s Centre for Counter Terrorism, said authorities would work more closely with community leaders. He said local cooperation was key to improving safety in vulnerable areas.

State officials said doctors and counsellors were assessing the children. They said support would continue before reunions with families. Authorities did not give details on longer-term care, including schooling plans.

While families expressed relief at the children’s return, the abduction has renewed pressure on Nigeria’s government to improve security. Many parents and teachers continue to question whether schools can remain open in areas prone to armed attacks.