BREAKING: Another 130 Pupils Abducted From Catholic School In Niger State Regain Freedom After Weeks In Captivity

Minna, Niger State– All the schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Niger State, have finally been released, ending weeks of fear, anguish and national outrage over the brazen attack on the school.

Officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) confirmed on Sunday that the final batch of 130 pupils had regained their freedom, bringing the total number of rescued victims to 230.

The confirmation was made to ARISE News Channel by officials of the NSA Office.

The development marks a major breakthrough in the rescue operation and brings relief to distraught families and the Papiri community, which had been gripped by anxiety since the attack.

The pupils were abducted on November 21, 2025, when heavily armed gunmen stormed the boarding school, firing sporadically before whisking away pupils and staff into the forest.

Security sources said the successful release followed sustained pressure by security agencies and coordinated intelligence-driven operations, although authorities did not disclose whether ransom was paid.

The school is managed by the Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) Sisters and owned by the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, under the Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province.

Earlier in December, after the release of an initial batch of 100 victims, the Congregation Leader of the OLA Sisters, Sr. Mary T. Barron, had raised alarm over the fate of those still held in captivity.

“It was with great joy we welcomed the news on 14 December that 100 people had been freed: 14 secondary school students, one staff member, 80 primary school children and five nursery school children,” she said at the time.

“However, this joy is tempered with ongoing anguish and concern for the safety of the remaining 165 — 11 staff members, 35 children from the nursery school and 119 from the Primary School. These children range from age five to 12 or 13.”