In a dramatic turn of events, the remaining students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, have been freed, bringing an end to a harrowing ordeal that has gripped the nation.
The latest release, confirmed by a security official familiar with the rescue operation, accounts for all the remaining victims taken during the 21 November attack on the school. According to the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication and spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, a total of 130 pupils have regained their freedom.
“Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” Mr. Dare wrote on X on
Sunday.The abduction, which occurred on November 21, sparked widespread outrage and concerns about the safety of schools nationwide. Gunmen had stormed the boarding school on motorcycles, systematically moving from one dormitory to another before marching their captives into nearby forests.
The Federal Government sprang into action, deploying ground troops and aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states to track the kidnappers. President Bola Tinubu also cancelled an official trip to oversee rescue efforts.
This latest release brings the total number of rescued victims to 230, with about 100 abductees freed on December 8.
The nation breathes a sigh of relief as the children are reunited with their loved ones, bringing closure to a traumatic chapter.
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