Ask Onix
All hostages freed in Niger state school abduction
Nigerian authorities confirmed on Sunday that the last 130 pupils and staff kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic boarding school in Papiri have been released, ending one of the country's most severe mass abductions.
Timeline of the crisis
The abduction occurred on 21 November, when armed attackers seized over 250 children and teachers. Earlier this month, 99 children and one teacher were freed, though conflicting reports left the exact number of remaining hostages unclear.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announced on Sunday that 230 students had now been freed, sharing images of smiling children waving. The remaining 130 arrived in the Niger state capital, Minna, on Monday.
Official statements and reactions
Niger state police chief Adamu Abdullahi Elleman told the BBC the freed hostages were undergoing security checks before reuniting with families at the school later in the day. Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the school's overseer, confirmed the governor had instructed him to receive the children.
Local emergency worker Abdullahi Rofia reported parents in Papiri were overjoyed at the news. The federal government called the release a "moment of triumph and relief."
Discrepancies in initial reports
Initial figures suggested 165 people remained in captivity after the first release on 8 December. However, police chief Elleman clarified that the 130 freed on Sunday accounted for all remaining abductees, attributing earlier inconsistencies to school management errors.
No details have been disclosed about how the release was secured or whether a ransom was paid.
Broader context of school kidnappings
The St Mary's abduction followed two other mass kidnappings in November. On 18 November, 38 people were abducted from Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara state, and a day earlier, 25 Muslim students were taken from a Kebbi state school. All hostages from those incidents have since been freed.
Analysts believe criminal gangs seeking ransom payments are behind most such attacks. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu pledged on 9 December to collaborate with states to enhance school security.
What's next
The freed students and staff will undergo medical and psychological evaluations before returning to classes. Authorities have not identified the abductors or revealed operational details to prevent compromising future security efforts.
