100 Nigerian Catholic school Abduction: 100 freed, but many remain missing
A total of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger state, have been released and attended a government-hosted ceremony on Monday. Many of the children appeared shaken but relieved as they gathered for the event.
Details surrounding the release were not publicly disclosed, and the government has not confirmed whether any ransom was paid, a common feature in such kidnappings.
In the November 21 attack, gunmen seized at least 303 students and 12 teachers from the school. Fifty students escaped within hours, while about 150 remain in captivity along with the teachers.
The freed children arrived in Minna, the state capital, aboard several buses and military trucks. Officials embraced and photographed with the children during a formal reception at the Niger State Government House.
AP Audio coverage notes that some of the abducted children have been released, with reports indicating many of the released group are aged between 10 and 17. The children were said to have stayed in Abuja since the release news broke on Sunday night.
Many parents learned of the release only through media reports, leaving anxious families in Papiri unsure whether their children are among those freed or still held. One parent, Samuel Musa, described his 13-year-old son’s abduction and his wife’s illness since the incident, expressing hope that his son is among the freed.
President Bola Tinubu praised security agencies for their commitment to recovering the students and promised continued efforts to rescue all abducted Nigerians. He reiterated a directive that all hostages across the country should be rescued and brought home safely.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Locals attribute the abductions to armed gangs that target schools and travelers to extract ransom in Nigeria’s increasingly volatile north.
The Papiri incident followed a wave of mass abductions, including a separate 25-student raid in Kebbi state’s Maga town and a church attack in Kwara state in which 38 worshippers were abducted—though those individuals have since been freed.
Pressure at home, and international attention—including remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump alleging persecution of Christians in Nigeria’s security crisis—have intensified calls for action. Tinubu has stated that efforts to free all hostages will continue without pause.
In Nigeria, authorities typically disclose little about rescue operations, and arrests are rare, with officials often not admitting whether ransom payments occurred.
The Associated Press contributed reporting from Abuja. For broader regional coverage, see AP’s Africa hub.
