Nigeria secures release of 130 remaining abducted pupils

All schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community of Niger State have been released, Nigerian authorities confirmed on December 21.

Officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said the final group of 130 pupils was freed, bringing the total number of released victims to 230 and ending days of anxiety for families and the wider community, per foreign media.

The students were kidnapped after gunmen attacked the boarding school, an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the security of educational institutions across Nigeria.

Authorities said the release was achieved through sustained security pressure and coordinated efforts by multiple agencies, but declined to provide further operational details.

The mass abduction has intensified calls from civil society groups, parents, and education stakeholders for stronger protection of schools and more decisive measures to prevent similar attacks, as insecurity remains a central issue in Nigeria’s public discourse.

By Khagan Isayev