About 100 children who were abducted from a Catholic school in central Nigeria last month have been released, authorities say.
Niger state's police chief, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, and Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is in charge of the school as the local leader of the Catholic church, both confirmed the students' release.
The government's Office of the National Security Adviser indicated that the children would be reunited with their parents starting Monday.
More than 250 students and 12 staff members were kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic school in Papiri, marking a new chapter in a troubling wave of mass abductions in Nigeria.
Details surrounding the release remain murky, especially concerning any negotiations or payments involved. The governor of the neighbouring Nasarawa state mentioned that the federal government played a critical role in securing their release but could not disclose particulars for security reasons.
With increasing attacks on schools and places of worship, the violence has raised alarm throughout Nigeria. Other incidents include attacks on a church in Kwara state and another on Muslim students in Kebbi state, all occurring just before the mass abduction at St Mary's.
Security analysts believe many of these kidnappings are executed by criminal gangs seeking ransom, although some government officials attribute the acts to jihadist groups. Despite the prohibition of ransom payments in Nigeria, it is suspected that such payments continue.
This security crisis has gained international attention, particularly after comments from US President Trump regarding the rising violence against Christians in the region. However, both officials and analysts stress that individuals of all faiths suffer due to the kidnappings and violence.
