MINNA, Nigeria — The governor of Niger State welcomed back 130 kidnapped children and teachers on Monday, following their release after a month in captivity. The victims, taken from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri, were part of one of the worst mass abductions in Nigeria’s history.
No group has claimed responsibility, though residents blame armed gangs seeking ransom. School kidnappings have become a defining feature of insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation.
Security Measures
Nigeria’s Counter‑Terrorism Centre announced new short‑term protective measures in vulnerable areas, alongside plans for community‑based security solutions involving state governments, traditional leaders, and religious institutions. “Education must not be a casualty to violence,” said coordinator Adamu Laka, stressing the government’s commitment to reopening schools safely.
Questions Over Ransom
Officials declined to confirm whether ransom payments were made. Niger State Governor Mohammed Umar Bago told reporters: “The most important thing is that we have recovered missing children unhurt. How we did it, we know it.”
Families Reunited
Most of the freed students are aged between 10 and 17. They are scheduled to be reunited with their families before Christmas, bringing relief to communities shaken by the abduction.