The remaining schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, have reportedly been released, bringing relief to families and authorities after weeks of uncertainty and anguish.
According to The Sun, sources familiar with the development disclosed that the 115 pupils were freed late on Friday following sustained engagements involving security agencies and intermediaries.
Their release comes nearly a month after gunmen stormed the school community in a midnight operation that shocked the nation.
Although official confirmation is still pending, credible accounts indicate that the children were released in a forested area located between Agwara and Borgu local government areas.
Security operatives have since moved into the area to evacuate the pupils under tight protection.
“It was a delicate and prolonged process that required patience and strategy,” a source briefed on the negotiations said. “The priority was to ensure the children came out alive and unharmed.”
The source, however, declined to confirm whether any ransom was paid, noting that discussions around the release were handled discreetly due to security concerns.
The pupils were among more than 300 students and teachers abducted on November 21, 2025, when armed attackers invaded the rural school at about 2 a.m.
The assailants reportedly operated for hours without resistance, carting away students and staff into the surrounding forests.
In the immediate aftermath of the attack, dozens of students managed to escape on their own. Others were released in phases, with 100 children regaining freedom about two weeks ago and reuniting with their families.
The abduction triggered a large-scale security response from the Federal Government, including aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.
Movement was also restricted in affected areas as troops intensified search-and-rescue operations.
President Bola Tinubu personally supervised aspects of the response, suspending an overseas engagement to focus on the crisis.
Similarly, Niger State Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago halted official activities, ordered statewide prayers, and directed the temporary closure of schools in high-risk locations.
During a visit to Kontagora, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu met with the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese and parents of the abducted children, assuring them that efforts were ongoing to secure the safe return of all victims.
“Everything possible is being done to protect these children and bring them back safely,” Ribadu was quoted as saying at the time. “The country will not abandon them.”
With the reported release of the remaining pupils, attention now shifts to their medical evaluation, psychological support, and reintegration, as well as renewed calls for stronger protection of schools in vulnerable communities across Nigeria.