FG Secures Release of 100 Abducted Niger Pupils, As 153 Pupils and 12 Teachers Remain in Captivity

The Federal Government has reportedly secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

The development comes two weeks after armed bandits invaded the school and kidnapped 315 individuals, 303 students and 12 teachers.

With the latest release, 153 pupils and 12 teachers are still being held by the abductors.

Details surrounding the rescue operation remain unclear as of press time. It could not be independently verified whether a ransom was paid or if the children were freed unconditionally.
Sources, however, confirmed that the rescued pupils are undergoing medical checks and will be reunited with their families after proper debriefing.

Attempts to reach the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, were unsuccessful as she stated she was in a meeting and would respond later.

This incident follows earlier reports by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which stated that 50 of the kidnapped pupils had escaped shortly after the attack and reunited with their families.
A BBC Pidgin report later clarified that the 50 children were part of those who fled during the initial attack and returned on their own, not escapees from captivity.

Parents who spoke with the BBC said young children were among those abducted. One woman noted that her sister’s two children, aged six and 13, were still missing. She added that locals had alerted soldiers after spotting the children nearby, following reports that the attackers’ vehicle had broken down.

The Niger attack occurred just days after gunmen kidnapped 25 students from a girls’ secondary school in Kebbi State and abducted worshippers from a church in Kwara State. It also happened shortly after the killing of senior military officer, General Sani Uba, by suspected ISWAP fighters.