The remaining 130 abducted children and teachers of St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, have been handed over to the Niger State Government, bringing relief to families and the wider community ahead of the Christmas season.
Speaking to journalists after the handover, Niger State Governor, Umaru Mohammed, said discrepancies surrounding the initial figures reported would be clarified by the school authorities and the Catholic Church.
He explained that security agencies had earlier worked with a total figure of about 230 abductees, including teachers.
“The information available to the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services was that there were about 230 persons involved, including teachers. Now we have been able to get them back,” the governor said. “I don’t want us to dwell on the numbers. I’m sure the church and the school understand where the errors came from. Panic at the initial stage could have contributed to the confusion.”
The governor said the successful release of the remaining abductees would allow parents to reunite with their children and celebrate Christmas in joy. “We are hopeful that we will reunite these people with their families immediately, by the grace of God, so they can celebrate Christmas together,” he said.
When asked whether ransom was paid to secure the release of the children, the governor declined to comment, insisting that such details were not for public discussion.
“I don’t think it is fair to the system or to the government to ask whether money was paid or not. The most important thing is that these children were recovered unharmed. How it was done is for us to know,” he stated.
Governor Mohammed also expressed concern over what he described as irresponsible parenting, particularly the practice of sending very young children to boarding schools.
He said the state would no longer condone the boarding of underage children and would review the operations of schools engaged in such practices.
“It is very irresponsible for parents to put children of two or three years old in boarding facilities,” he said. “What we have seen here is deeply touching. Seeing children as young as two years old in captivity is unbearable. These issues will be reviewed, not just in this school but across others operating in this manner.”
The governor said the sight of the children underscored the trauma they endured in captivity, but expressed gratitude that they were rescued alive. He thanked God for their safe return, noting that the ordeal was “scary and heartbreaking.”
The representative of the National Security Adviser (NSA) who is the Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Center, Adamu Garba Laka said that the rescue was due to the sustained efforts of the Department of State Services and the General Officer Commanding two Division, the Nigerian Army, with the guidance of the Chief of Army Staff, played a significant role in ensuring the success of this operation.
“It is with profound humility and a deep sense of duty that I am here on behalf of the National Security Advisor to formally announce the rescue and formally handover the remaining 130 victims, both teachers and students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Aguara Local Government Area, who were abducted on the 21st of November 2025.
“This rescue was a result of the directive of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and intense and coordinated operations by the National Security Advisor in conjunction with the Department of State Services, the Armed Forces, the Nigerian Police, other security agencies and international partners, which has yielded another landmark achievement of rescuing the victims unhurt.
He then reaffirmed the commitment of the Office of the National Security Advisor to the security of every Nigerian, adding that they will continue to lead and coordinate measures to protect communities and institutions across the country.
“We are implementing immediate short-term protective measures in high-risk areas while concurrently working with state governments, traditional and religious leaders to develop lasting community-based security solutions. For education, it must not be a casualty of violence. We will continue to pursue policies and operations to restore confidence, reopen schools safely, and ensure that the right of every Nigerian child to learn in safety is upheld.”
The children arrived at the Niger state Government at about 3.35 pm amid tight security. They arrived in six white buses with security armoured vehicles at the back and the front. They were received by the state Governor before they were moved into the hall for the handover ceremony.
The released students and teachers were under tight security by the officials of the DSS, as they were not allowed to speak to anyone apart from the security personnel. Moves made by journalists to speak to the children and teachers were rebuffed by the security agents.
No parents of the released abducted children were on the ground to see the children, despite information about their rescue had gone out since Sunday night.
The Proprietor of St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, who is also the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, was also not on ground to receive the children; he was represented by the state CAN Vice Chairman.
