All 230 Abducted Pupils Now Free
Officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) have confirmed that every pupil abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, has been released.
The confirmation, made to ARISE News Channel on Sunday, followed the rescue of the last batch of 130 victims, bringing the total number of freed pupils to 230.
The development marks a major breakthrough for security agencies and ends days of fear, uncertainty, and anguish for families and the wider Papiri community.
The pupils were kidnapped on November 21, 2025, when armed men stormed the boarding school, triggering widespread condemnation and renewed concerns about the safety of schools nationwide.
The incident once again placed Nigeria’s long-running challenge of school abductions under public scrutiny, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.
Authorities said the successful release of all the pupils was achieved through sustained security pressure and coordinated efforts by relevant agencies.
While officials did not disclose operational details, the outcome has been described as the result of persistent engagement and strategic actions aimed at securing the children’s safe return.
The full release comes amid growing public calls for decisive measures to prevent future attacks on educational institutions.
Earlier in December, the release of 100 victims had provided some relief but also underscored the scale of the crisis.
At the time, the Congregation Leader of the OLA Sisters, Sr. Mary T. Barron, confirmed the partial release, noting that many pupils and staff remained in captivity under harsh conditions.
In a statement issued after the December 14 release, she said the freed group included 14 secondary school students, one staff member, 80 primary school pupils, and five nursery children.
However, she expressed deep concern for the remaining captives, many of whom were between the ages of five and 12.
St. Mary’s Catholic School is managed by the OLA Sisters and owned by the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, which falls under the Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province.
Church authorities and community leaders had repeatedly appealed for urgent action, stressing the emotional and psychological toll on the children and their families.
With all pupils now safely released, attention is shifting to long-term solutions to safeguard schools, particularly boarding institutions in high-risk areas.
Education stakeholders and security experts have urged the government to strengthen school security frameworks and address the root causes driving repeated attacks on learning centres.
While the release of all 230 abducted pupils brings relief and closure to affected families, the incident reinforces the urgent need for stronger, preventive security measures to protect schools and restore public confidence in the safety of Nigeria’s education system.
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