- One hundred pupils aged five to ten, abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, were reunited with their families on Monday after nearly three weeks in captivity.
- Governor Mohammed Bago received the children in Minna during an emotional handover ceremony.
- The November 21 attack initially saw 227 pupils and staff abducted
- Tinubu commended security agencies, with the President ordering intensified operations and renewed measures to secure schools nationwide.
Tears of relief flowed across Niger State on Monday as 100 young students, aged five to ten, seized from St Mary’s Private Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, were finally reunited with their families after nearly three weeks.
Governor Mohammed Bago officially welcomed the children at the Government House in Minna, an event marked by poignant reunions between the pupils and their emotional parents and community leaders.
This repatriation follows the major incident on November 21, when 227 pupils and teachers were taken by armed bandits. Although 50 children managed to escape shortly after the attack, a total of 127 victims comprising 115 students and 12 staff members are still being held.
A National Security Adviser representative, in handing over the released pupils to Governor Bago, assured the populace that efforts were actively underway to secure the remaining hostages.
Governor Bago lauded the efforts of the security agencies and pledged that more recoveries would be secured swiftly. In response to the positive development, President Bola Tinubu praised the security teams and issued a directive to intensify operations immediately until all abducted personnel and pupils are safely returned. The President emphatically stated that schools nationwide must be fortified against such attacks.
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