Freedom at Last: 100 Schoolchildren Released in Nigeria

Mon Dec 08 2025 18:27:59 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

After a harrowing ordeal, around 100 schoolchildren kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic School in Nigeria have been released. The road to their freedom remains unclear, raising questions about safety and security in the region.

Approximately 100 schoolchildren who were abducted from a Catholic school in Nigeria last month have been released, as confirmed by local authorities. While the release has brought a sigh of relief, details surrounding their freedom—such as whether ransoms were paid—remain vague. The incident highlights an ongoing crisis of mass abductions in Nigeria, intensifying concerns over the safety of students in the region.

About 100 children who were abducted from a Catholic school in central Nigeria last month have been freed, 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 community, both told the BBC that they had received confirmation of the students' release.

They said the news had been confirmed by the president's national security advisor, but Bishop Yohanna said it was not clear when the children would be reunited with their parents.

More than 250 students and 12 staff were kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic school in Papiri, the latest in a wave of mass abductions.

Bishop Yohanna said he presumed the authorities may need time to process the pupils and provide necessary support before announcing a formal handover. He added that he did not know the students' current whereabouts.

Details about their release remain unclear, including whether it was secured through negotiation or by force, and whether any ransoms were paid.

The governor of neighbouring Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule, told local media that the federal government had played a key role in securing their release, adding that the behind-the-scenes efforts could not be disclosed for security reasons.

Last week, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited Papiri and met with a delegation led by Bishop Yohanna, assuring them the children would soon be rescued and reunited with their families.

Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in the latest wave of attacks in north and central Nigeria. The attack on St Mary's, on 21 November, was preceded by mass kidnappings just days earlier.

It is not clear who is behind these kidnappings, but most analysts believe they are being carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments. However, a presidential spokesman earlier stated that the government believes they are the work of jihadist groups.

Nigeria's security crisis has attracted international attention, further highlighting the urgent need for effective measures to protect the nation's youth.