The remaining 130 children and teachers abducted from St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools,Papiri, have been safely returned to the Niger State Government, bringing relief to families ahead of the Christmas season.
Speaking to journalists after the handover, Governor Umaru Mohammed said discrepancies in the initial reports would be clarified by the school authorities and the Catholic Church.
“Security agencies initially worked with a figure of about 230 abductees, including teachers. Now we have recovered them all,” the governor said. “Panic in the early stages may have contributed to the confusion. The most important thing is that they are back safely.”
Governor Mohammed added that the successful rescue allows parents to reunite with their children and celebrate Christmas in joy. “We are hopeful that the children will be reunited with their families immediately, by the grace of God,” he said.
Asked if a ransom was paid for the release, the governor declined to comment. “It is not for public discussion. What matters is that the children returned unharmed,” he stated.
The governor also condemned the practice of sending very young children to boarding schools. “It is irresponsible for parents to put children as young as two or three years old in boarding facilities. The state will review operations of schools engaging in this practice,” he said.
Governor Mohammed described the ordeal as traumatic but expressed gratitude for the safe return of the abductees. Arrangements have been made for medical examinations before the children are handed over to their families, with the process expected to conclude by the following day.
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He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, and other security agencies for their coordination. “This is unprecedented in Nigeria. Rarely has such a large number of abductees been rescued unharmed,” he said.
Representing the NSA, Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Adamu Garba Laka, credited the rescue to sustained, coordinated operations involving the DSS, Nigerian Army, Police, other security agencies, and international partners.
“This operation, guided by the Chief of Army Staff and under the directive of the Commander-in-Chief, President Tinubu, has yielded another landmark achievement,” Laka said. He assured that the Office of the NSA remains committed to protecting communities and schools, implementing short-term protective measures, and collaborating with state governments and local leaders to ensure lasting security solutions.
The rescued students and teachers arrived at the Niger State Government headquarters around 3:35 pm under tight security, transported in six white buses flanked by armoured vehicles. Governor Mohammed received them before the formal handover ceremony.
Security personnel from the DSS ensured that the abductees did not speak to anyone outside the official delegation, and no parents were present at the handover despite prior public announcements of the rescue.
The Proprietor of St Mary’s School and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, was also absent, represented instead by the state CAN Vice Chairman.
