The month-long dialogue for the release of the students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic School, Papiri, reached a hopeful conclusion on Friday evening. The remaining 115 schoolchildren and their teachers, who were still in the custody of terrorists, have finally regained their freedom.
The victims were released in a forested area between the Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of Niger State. After their release, security officials from the Office of the National Security Advisor (ONSA) were mobilized to evacuate the children for medical evaluation and reunification with their families.
The mass abduction occurred on November 21, 2025, when hundreds of gunmen on motorbikes stormed the school at 2:00 a.m., operating for nearly three hours. A total of 315 people (303 students and 12 teachers) were initially taken.
Recall, Dawn Herald previously reported that President Bola Tinubu canceled an international trip just to oversee the rescue mission, and the Federal Government implemented a 24-hour security cordon and aerial surveillance across Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.
The release was secured after the negotiations between the Federal Government and the terrorist commanders.
I rejoice with Governor Umar Bago and commend our security agencies for their steadfast work. We will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure that communities across the country remain safe – President Bola Tinubu
The freed children are being transported to Minna, the Niger State capital, for de-radicalization and medical check-ups before being reunited with their parents in Kontagora. The Niger State government has vowed to investigate the school’s management for allegedly operating despite security warnings, though the Catholic Diocese has denied receiving any such notice.
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