JUST IN: Remaining Abducted Niger Catholic School Students, Teachers Regain Freedom

The remaining students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have regained their freedom, according to local residents and security sources.

A security official familiar with the operation confirmed that the latest release accounts for all those still held after the 21 November attack on the school. The exact number of victims freed in this final batch could not be immediately confirmed.

The students and teachers were taken when armed assailants riding motorcycles stormed the boarding school at about 2:00 a.m. The attackers reportedly operated for nearly three hours, moving from one dormitory to another before leading their captives into nearby forests.

During the raid, at least 50 students managed to escape, while scores of others were abducted. On 8 December, security agencies secured the release of about 100 victims, leaving an unspecified number in captivity until the latest development.

Sources said the freed students and teachers are currently being transported to Minna, the Niger State capital, where they are expected to undergo medical examinations and reunite with their families.

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Federal Government nor the Niger State Government has issued an official statement on the release.

Following the abduction, the Federal Government imposed a security cordon around border communities and deployed ground troops alongside aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kebbi and Kwara states to track down the kidnappers. President Bola Tinubu also cancelled an official trip to personally coordinate rescue efforts, while authorities ordered the temporary closure of schools across Niger State and some federal institutions in high-risk areas.

This is a developing story and more details are expected to follow.