The remaining students and teachers kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Rafi Local Government Area, Niger State, have reportedly been released.
A security officer acquainted with the rescue effort confirmed to Premium Times that the latest release includes all of the remaining casualties from the school incident on November 21.
The exact number of newly released abductees could not be independently confirmed at the time this report was filed.
Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication and President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson, confirmed that 130 students had been released.
“Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” he wrote briefly on X on Sunday.
The victims were abducted after gunmen assaulted the boarding school, causing public outrage and renewing concerns about school safety across the country.
The attackers apparently stormed the boarding school on motorcycles at about 2:00 a.m. They moved systematically from one dormitory to the next before marching their captives into the surrounding forests.
Days later, the Christian Association of Nigeria revealed that 50 children fled during the raid, while scores more were taken away.
Following the abduction, the federal government established a security perimeter surrounding border villages.
To search down the kidnappers, President Bola Tinubu sent ground troops and aircraft surveillance in regions of Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states.
He also canceled an official trip to observe rescue efforts, and officials ordered the temporary closure of schools throughout Niger State, as well as several federal institutions in high-risk locations.
On December 8, security agencies secured the release of approximately 100 abductees, leaving an unknown number in custody until the most recent breakthrough.
The reported release of 130 abductees increases the overall number of rescued victims to 230.
According to Premium Times, the liberated children and teachers are being transferred to Minna, the capital of Niger State, where they will undergo medical examinations and rejoin with their families.
However, as of the time of reporting this article, neither the federal government nor the Niger State Government had issued an official comment regarding the development.
