Bayo Onanuga
By Ola Wale
All 130 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in Niger State, Nigeria, have been released, according to President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga. The students were taken by gunmen from St Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri village on November 21. This release comes after 100 students were freed earlier this month, and 50 escaped shortly after the abduction.
The freed students are expected to arrive in Minna, Niger State’s capital, and reunite with their families for Christmas. The release is attributed to a military-intelligence driven operation.
This incident highlights Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges, particularly the issue of school kidnappings, which surged after Boko Haram’s 2014 abduction of 276 girls in Chibok. The abduction of the St Mary’s school students was one of the largest in Nigerian history, with 303 students and 12 teachers initially taken.
The Nigerian government has been working to address the security situation, with President Tinubu directing security agencies to act swiftly to bring the students back. The government has also shut down 47 federal secondary schools and restricted school activities in some states ⁵.
The release of the students has been welcomed by Nigerians, with Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun describing it as a “victory over evil forces” and a reassurance that insecurity won’t triumph in Nigeria.
The incident has raised concerns about school safety and the need for stronger protection measures. Would you like to know more about Nigeria’s efforts to address security concerns or the impact of school kidnappings on education?
