Nigerians on Monday welcomed 130 schoolchildren and teachers released after being held captive in one of the largest mass abductions in the country’s recent history.
The victims were freed on Sunday, one month after gunmen stormed a Catholic school in the Papiri community of Niger State during a predawn raid. Their release marked a moment of relief in a nation where school kidnappings have become a grim symbol of growing insecurity.
At a government-organised ceremony, several of the children appeared malnourished and visibly traumatised, while others stood quietly in shock as officials addressed the crowd. Authorities said arrangements were underway to reunite the children with their families ahead of Christmas.
Conflicting Figures Over Number Abducted
Initial reports had stated that 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted during the attack, with about 50 escaping shortly afterward.
However, Niger State Governor Mohammed Bago clarified on Monday that 230 individuals were taken, adding that all captives have now been released.
Most of those abducted were aged between 10 and 17, according to school officials. One child who escaped earlier told the Associated Press that the gunmen threatened to shoot students during the raid.
No Details on Ransom or Perpetrators
Authorities have not disclosed whether a ransom was paid, a common feature of mass kidnappings in northern Nigeria. No group has claimed responsibility, but residents blamed armed criminal gangs, commonly referred to as bandits, who routinely target schools and travellers for ransom.
Government Pledges Stronger Community Protection
Speaking at Monday’s event, Maj. Gen. Adamu Garba Laka, National Coordinator at Nigeria’s Centre for Counter Terrorism, said the government would intensify collaboration with local and community leaders to strengthen security in high-risk areas.
Nigeria continues to grapple with persistent abductions linked to armed groups operating across its conflict-affected northern regions, with schools increasingly seen as soft targets.
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