All schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School in the Papiri community of Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State, have finally been released.
The last group of 115 students regained their freedom on Sunday, bringing the total number of rescued children to approximately 265 and marking the end of a harrowing month-long ordeal.
The mass abduction took place in the early hours of November 21, 2025, when armed gunmen stormed the boarding school and abducted 303 students alongside 12 teachers. The incident was described as one of the largest school kidnappings in Nigeria’s recent history.
In the days following the attack, reports indicated that 50 students managed to escape on their own shortly after the incident. Another 100 students were later released on December 8, following intensified security operations and rescue efforts.
With the release of the final batch of 115 students, families of the victims have expressed immense relief, while security agencies have described the development as a significant breakthrough in their ongoing fight against kidnapping and insecurity.
