President Bola Tinubu has instructed Nigeria’s security institutions to ensure that every citizen abducted anywhere in the country is rescued and reunited with their families without delay.
Tinubu emphasized that Nigerian pupils must never again be “sitting ducks for heartless terrorists intent on disrupting their education and subjecting them and their parents to unspeakable trauma”, stressing the urgency of restoring safety and preventing further attacks on schools.
The President issued the directive on Monday while reacting to the retrieval of 100 pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Niger State. He also mandated security operatives to “prevent future kidnappings”, making it clear that protecting students should now be a national security priority.
“My directive to our security forces remains that all the students and other abducted Nigerians across the country must be rescued and brought back home safely. We must account for all the victims,” Tinubu said in a statement released through his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu affirmed that the Federal Government would continue to cooperate with Niger State and other state governments to reinforce school security and create a safer learning environment for young learners.
“From now on, our security agencies, working with the governors, must prevent future kidnappings. Our children should no longer be sitting ducks for heartless terrorists intent on disrupting their education and subjecting them and their parents to unspeakable trauma,” the President was quoted as saying.
He congratulated the security services for their “tireless efforts in securing the freedom” of the recently freed pupils, adding that the job remains incomplete until all hostages, including the remaining children and their teachers, regain their freedom.
Tinubu assured parents and guardians that the Federal Government and the states involved were fully aligned in the mission to bring home every abducted individual. He also noted that he had received confirmation of the safe return of the 100 students.
“I have been briefed on the safe return of 100 students from the Catholic School in Niger State. I rejoice with Governor Umar Bago and commend our security agencies for their steadfast work in ensuring the safe return of the students to their families since the unfortunate incident on November 21,” he stated.
The mass abduction occurred when armed bandits attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in the remote Papiri community, taking away 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers.
Within the first 24 hours, 50 students escaped, reuniting with their families shortly afterward. However, 265 victims, including 253 children and the 12 staff members, remained in captivity until Sunday, when the Federal Government secured the release of 100 more pupils.
Governor Umaru Bago received the released pupils at the Niger State Government House around 5:20 pm on Monday. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) officially handed them over to the state authorities on December 8, 2025.
While expressing gratitude to President Tinubu and the NSA Nuhu Ribadu for their rapid and coordinated action, Governor Bago said the government was relentlessly working to free the remaining hostages still held by the kidnappers.
He reassured families that the ongoing search-and-rescue operations would continue until every missing student is safely reunited with loved ones. The governor encouraged residents to sustain their prayers for the remaining abductees and expressed hope that the ordeal would soon end.
What you should know
President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s security agencies to secure the return of all abducted citizens, following the release of 100 pupils kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State.
The attack initially led to the abduction of 315 people, with 50 escaping early on and 100 more freed after Federal Government efforts. Tinubu pledged improved school protection and insisted that future kidnappings must be prevented.
Governor Umaru Bago received the rescued pupils and confirmed that operations continue to free the remaining hostages. Authorities have assured parents that the government remains fully committed to returning every child safely.
