The Federal Government has recorded a significant breakthrough in the ongoing rescue operation following the mass abduction of students from a school in Niger State, with 100 schoolchildren now confirmed released from captivity.
The pupils were among hundreds taken during a coordinated attack on St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area, where armed assailants overran the area in the early hours of November 21, 2025.
According to security reports, the attackers moved into the community under the cover of darkness, overwhelming the school facility and forcefully taking away hundreds of occupants, including students and staff.
Following the incident, joint security forces comprising the military, police, and local vigilantes launched a massive manhunt across surrounding forests and border routes to track down the kidnappers and secure the safe return of the victims.
Within 24 hours of the attack, 50 pupils managed to escape on their own and reunited with their families, bringing early relief to the distressed community. However, over 260 persons, including students and teachers, were still held for days.
In response to the scale of the attack, the Federal Government reinforced security across Niger and neighbouring states, deploying aerial surveillance and tightening movement across flashpoints in Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also took swift action by suspending official travel engagements to personally coordinate security briefings on the crisis.
As part of emergency safety measures, the Niger State Government ordered the closure of schools across vulnerable areas, while several federal institutions in high-risk zones were also shut down indefinitely.
The latest release of 100 pupils has been described by government officials as a major success, while efforts continue to ensure that all remaining abductees are rescued safely.
Security agencies have assured Nigerians that operations are ongoing and that no effort will be spared in dismantling kidnapping networks operating across the region.
