Niger gov’t receives 100 rescued students in Minna

• To undergo medical check 

From John Adams, Minna

The one hundred schoolchildren of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State that regained their freedom on Sunday night have been handed over the Niger State government.

The school children comprising mostly the nursery and primary section who were looking frail and exhausted, arrived government Minna at about 5:15pm under a heavy security.

In a brief handing over ceremony, the representative of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Wing Commander Abdullahi Idi Hong said the released of school children was made possible following intensified intervention by the Federal Government.

The rescue operation, he said was a  combined efforts of the Army, the DSS, the Police, saying that it was seamless operation.

Receiving the children, the governor, Umaru Mohammed Bago, said that the release of these school children is an important day for the government and people of state.

The governor thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and the All the security agents that made the release of the abducted students possible.

He however said that the government is praying for the release of remaining children from their abductors.

He disclosed that the children will undergo medical check before reuniting with their families.

The children were part of the 315 persons seized on 21 November 2025 when armed bandits stormed the remote school community around 2:00 a.m., operating unhindered for nearly three hours. The attackers abducted 303 students and 12 teachers, prompting a massive security response.

In the first 24 hours after the attack, 50 of the students escaped and were reunited with their families, leaving 265 others with their abductors, including 253 children and all 12 teachers.

To contain the crisis, the Federal Government enforced a 24-hour security lockdown across the area and launched wide-ranging aerial surveillance covering parts of Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States.
President Bola Tinubu also cancelled a scheduled international trip to oversee the rescue operations personally.

All schools in Niger State and several federal institutions in other high-risk area were ordered shut indefinitely.

However last week, National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu visited Kontagora to meet the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese, Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and distraught parents of the abducted children. Ribadu assured them that the pupils were in stable condition and would soon be returned safely.

“God is with them and God is with us. Evil will never win. They are going to come back. I give you that assurance,” he stated during the visit.

With 100 children now free, attention shifts to the fate of the remaining captives as security agencies continue coordinated operations to secure their release.
Further updates from authorities are expected soon.

Too traditional rulers, national assembly members,members of the state executive council and heads of security agencies in the state were present at the handing over ceremony.