The Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese and Proprietor of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, has confirmed that abducted schoolchildren and their teachers have regained their freedom, bringing relief after weeks of anxiety.
The Bishop disclosed that Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, personally contacted him to relay the news of the successful release. Although he did not specify the exact number of those freed, he confirmed that the rescued pupils and teachers were expected to arrive in Minna on Monday, where they would be officially received by the governor at the Government House.
This confirmation was conveyed through a brief statement issued by the Bishop’s media aide, Dan Atori, who noted that additional information would be made public once the victims arrive in the state capital.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government also announced on Sunday that it had secured the release of 130 abducted schoolchildren who were taken from the Catholic school in Niger State. A presidential spokesman, Sunday Dare, made the announcement via his verified X account.
“Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity,” Dare wrote, sharing a photograph showing smiling children alongside an adult woman.
The abduction occurred in the early hours of November 21, when gunmen invaded the Catholic school and kidnapped hundreds of pupils, teachers, and other staff members. Sources revealed that the attackers arrived in large numbers, riding more than 60 motorcycles and accompanied by a van. During the assault, the school’s gatekeeper was shot and sustained serious injuries.
In the days following the attack, the Christian Association of Nigeria disclosed that about 50 of the children managed to escape from captivity on their own. However, the exact number of those originally abducted remains uncertain, as CAN earlier stated that 315 individuals were taken.
On December 7, the Federal Government announced that 100 of the abducted children had already been released, making the latest rescue the final phase of a prolonged and delicate operation that has now brought the ordeal to an end.
What you should know
The abduction of pupils from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State sparked national outrage and renewed concerns about the safety of schools across Nigeria.
While security agencies and the Federal Government have now confirmed that all kidnapped pupils have been freed, conflicting figures over the number initially abducted highlight gaps in crisis reporting.
The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by armed groups, the vulnerability of educational institutions, and the urgent need for stronger security measures to protect children and prevent similar attacks in the future.
