FG secures release of remaining 130 St Mary’s school’s children

He described the release as a significant step in the government’s ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity and protect vulnerable communities.

The schoolchildren were kidnapped in the early hours of November 21, when heavily armed gunmen invaded the Catholic school in large numbers, arriving on motorcycles and in a van.

During the attack, the school’s gatekeeper was shot and seriously injured, while hundreds of pupils, teachers and staff were taken away, triggering nationwide and international outrage.

Conflicting figures initially emerged over the exact number of abductees, with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) earlier placing the figure at over 300.

However, authorities later confirmed staggered releases, including the escape of about 50 pupils from captivity and the release of 100 others on December 7.

The 100 pupils earlier freed were formally handed over to the Niger State Government by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and received by Governor Umaru Bago at the Government House in Minna.

In response to the abduction, the Federal Government imposed a 24-hour security cordon, launched aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states, and ordered the closure of schools in high-risk areas.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also cancelled planned international engagements to personally oversee the security response.

The Niger State attack was among a series of school abductions across the country, including the kidnapping of over 20 female students in Kebbi State, underscoring ongoing security challenges and renewed calls for stronger protection of educational institutions nationwide.