100 Students Released After Niger State School Abduction, Rescue Efforts Ongoing
After more than two weeks in captivity, 100 students kidnapped from their school in Nigeria have been released.
Authorities in Nigeria have confirmed the release of 100 students who were kidnapped two weeks ago from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State. The students, abducted in one of the country’s latest mass school kidnappings, were freed on Sunday and taken to Abuja, where they are expected to be handed over to Niger State officials after medical checks and documentation.
The attack, carried out on November 21, saw armed men storm the school compound and seize more than 300 students and 12 staff members, triggering widespread fear and renewed criticism of Nigeria’s security challenges. While about 50 students managed to escape shortly after the abduction, hundreds remained unaccounted for, leaving families in days of agony and uncertainty.
According to authorities, the newly freed students appear physically stable, though many show signs of psychological distress after days in captivity. Officials have not clarified whether the release was achieved through negotiations, ransom payments, or military pressure. Security agencies have remained tight lipped, citing ongoing operations.
Despite the breakthrough, an undisclosed number of students and staff are still being held, with rescue efforts reportedly continuing across difficult terrain. Families of those still missing have called on the government to intensify search operations and ensure the safe return of every child.
International observers and rights groups welcomed the students’ release but warned that the persistent wave of school kidnappings in northern Nigeria highlights a deeper crisis requiring urgent reforms. They urged authorities to reinforce school security, strengthen intelligence networks, and adopt stronger strategies to dismantle kidnapping networks operating across several states.
For many parents in Niger State, Sunday’s news offered a measure of relief but not closure. As they embrace the children who made it home, their hearts remain heavy for those still in the hands of their captors a painful reminder that Nigeria’s battle against mass abductions is far from over.
