By Our Correspondent
In a relief to families and the nation, the final 115 abducted students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, have been released by their captors.
The children were freed on the evening of December 19, 2025, in a forested area between Agwara and Borgu local government areas, following negotiations involving Nigerian government officials and the armed bandits.
The abduction, which occurred in the early hours of November 21, 2025, saw around 315 people 303 students and 12 teachers taken by armed assailants on motorcycles. The attackers reportedly fired shots into the air, sowing panic across the school compound.
In the first 24 hours after the attack, 50 of the students escaped and were reunited with their families, leaving 265 others with their abductors, including 253 children and all 12 teachers.
Earlier this month, Nigerian authorities had secured the release of 100 students through coordinated security operations led by the federal government. The rescued children were received by Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and were reported to be in stable condition.
Details regarding the release of the remaining 115 students remain limited, though sources indicated that negotiations played a central role. Security forces deployed by the National Security Adviser’s office were on site to ensure their safe evacuation.
To contain the crisis, the Federal Government enforced a 24-hour security lockdown across the area and launched wide-ranging aerial surveillance covering parts of Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States.
President Bola Tinubu also cancelled a scheduled international trip to oversee the rescue operations personally.
National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, who had previously visited the area, had assured the public of the children’s eventual safe return, stating firmly that “evil will never win.”
Some of the freed children recounted harrowing experiences, describing how they were held near a river and threatened with death if they made any noise.
The ordeal, which lasted nearly a month, is a stark reminder of the persistent security challenges posed by banditry and kidnappings in northern Nigeria.
While minor discrepancies in reporting remain due to escapes and differences in categorizing students versus staff, the release appears to resolve the crisis for all involved.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident, with heightened security measures being deployed to prevent similar occurrences in the region.
