Tinubu Hails Release of 100 Pupils, Directs Rescue of Remaining Victims

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has welcomed the release of 100 children abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

He has also ordered intensified operations to secure the freedom of the remaining students and staff still held by the kidnappers.

The abduction occurred in the early hours of 21 November 2025, when armed assailants on motorbikes attacked the boarding school dormitories.

A total of 315 individuals, including 303 pupils and 12 teachers, were seized during the raid. Within hours, about 50 students managed to escape and reunite with their families, leaving several others in captivity.

The release of the 100 pupils came after coordinated efforts by security forces in collaboration with local community trackers. The rescued children were formally received by the Niger State government at the Government House in Minna, where they were reunited with their families and given immediate medical attention and counseling.

President Tinubu praised the swift response of the security agencies, expressing relief at the safe return of the students. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to rescuing all remaining victims and ensuring the protection of children in vulnerable regions.

Despite this positive development, concerns remain as an estimated 165 pupils and 12 staff members are yet to be freed. Authorities have maintained heightened security measures, including aerial patrols and intensified forest surveillance, in areas prone to abductions. Schools in high-risk zones have been temporarily closed to prevent further incidents.

The Papiri kidnapping is among the largest school abductions in recent months and underscores the ongoing security challenges affecting the country’s educational sector. The release of the 100 students offers a measure of relief to families and communities, but the focus remains on securing the safe return of the remaining captives and preventing future attacks.