Nigeria: Just in: Remaining 130 abducted Niger pupils released

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

All the schoolchildren taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Niger State, have now been freed. Officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) confirmed on Sunday that the final group of 130 victims was released, bringing the total number of rescued pupils to 230.

The pupils were abducted after gunmen attacked the boarding school, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of educational institutions across Nigeria. Authorities said the release was achieved through sustained security pressure and coordinated efforts by relevant agencies, but they did not disclose operational details.

The development has intensified calls from stakeholders for enhanced protection of schools and more decisive action to prevent a recurrence of such attacks, as insecurity remains a dominant theme in public discourse.