Remaining 130 Students Freed After Niger State School Abduction
The remaining 130 students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have regained their freedom, marking a major breakthrough in the rescue efforts that began after the school raid on November 21.
A security source familiar with the operation confirmed to Premium Times that all remaining victims from the abduction have now been released.
The exact number of freed students could not be independently verified at the time of reporting.
However, Sunday Dare, Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications and spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, confirmed via X that 130 pupils had been rescued.
“Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” he wrote.
The pupils were kidnapped in a pre-dawn attack when gunmen on motorcycles stormed the boarding school at around 2:00 a.m., moving systematically from one dormitory to another before taking the students and teachers into nearby forests.
The incident provoked widespread outrage across Nigeria and renewed concerns over the security of schools in high-risk Areas.
Earlier reports indicated that 50 students had escaped during the raid, while security Agencies successfully rescued approximately 100 others on December 8.
With the latest release, the total number of rescued victims now stands at 230.
Following the abduction, the Federal Government deployed ground troops, instituted aerial surveillance across Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states, and imposed a security cordon around border communities.
President Tinubu also postponed an official trip to oversee the rescue operation, while authorities temporarily closed schools across the State and other Federal Institutions in high-risk areas.
Sources said the freed students and teachers are currently being transported to Minna, the Niger State capital, where they will undergo medical examinations before reuniting with their families.
As of this report, neither the Federal Government nor the Niger State Government has issued an official statement on the latest development.
The successful rescue of the remaining abducted pupils represents a major relief to parents, communities, and authorities, as efforts continue to address rising insecurity in schools across Northern Nigeria.
