About 100 children abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, central Nigeria, last month have been freed, according to officials. The release was confirmed by Niger State’s police chief, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, and Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the local Catholic leader overseeing the school.
While the news has brought relief to anxious parents, Bishop Yohanna noted that it remains unclear when the children will be reunited with their families. Authorities are believed to be processing the pupils and providing support before a formal handover.
Details of the Release
The circumstances surrounding the release are still uncertain. It is not known whether negotiations, force, or ransom payments were involved. Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said the federal government played a crucial role, though details of the operation remain undisclosed for security reasons.
Last week, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited Papiri, assuring community leaders that the children would soon be rescued. His promise appears to have been fulfilled, though questions linger about the fate of the remaining abductees, as more than 250 students and 12 staff were initially kidnapped.
A Wave of Attacks
The abduction at St Mary’s on 21 November was part of a disturbing surge in kidnappings across Nigeria. Just days earlier, gunmen attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State, killing two people and abducting 38 worshippers. Another attack in Kebbi State saw two killed and 25 Muslim students kidnapped from a girls’ secondary school. Those victims have since been freed.
More recently, gunmen abducted at least 20 people in separate incidents in Kogi and Sokoto states, including a pastor, his wife, worshippers, a bride, and her bridesmaids.
Who Is Behind the Kidnappings?
Analysts believe most of these abductions are carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments, despite ransom payments being outlawed in Nigeria. However, government officials suspect jihadist groups may also be involved, particularly in northern regions where insurgencies have spread.
International Spotlight
Nigeria’s worsening security crisis has drawn global attention. Last month, US President Donald Trump threatened to deploy troops if the government “continues to allow the killing of Christians.” Nigerian officials, however, insist that victims of violence and kidnappings come from all faiths, rejecting claims that Christians are being specifically targeted.
Key Takeaways
- Around 100 abducted schoolchildren from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State have been freed.
- Details of their release remain unclear, including whether ransom or force was involved.
- The abduction was part of a wider wave of kidnappings targeting schools and places of worship.
- Analysts blame criminal gangs seeking ransom, though officials suspect jihadist involvement.
- Nigeria’s security crisis has attracted international attention, with global leaders voicing concern.