Koko Maxwella 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government secures the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted by bandits from St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, following intensified security operations and high-level intervention.
The children were among 315 students and teachers seized during a coordinated overnight attack on 21 November 2025, when gunmen riding motorcycles stormed the school dormitories around 2:00 a.m., operating for nearly three hours without resistance.
In the immediate aftermath, 50 pupils escape and reunite with their families within 24 hours. However, 265 people — including 253 children and all 12 teachers — remain captive, prompting nationwide concern.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu responds by cancelling planned international travel and ordering emergency measures, including a 24-hour security cordon, aerial surveillance and joint operations across Niger, Kwara and Kebbi states. In a statement on Sunday, Troops, air assets and local hunters comb surrounding forests in pursuit of the abductors.
Last week, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, reassured parents and school authorities that the remaining abductees are safe and that rescue efforts continue unabated.
“God is with them, and God is with us. Evil will never win. They are going to come back. I give you that assurance,” Ribadu said during a visit to the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, at St Michael’s Catholic Cathedral.
Security analysts say the incident underscores Nigeria’s ongoing struggle with rural banditry targeting schools, despite expanded military operations. Human rights advocates urge sustained protection for educational institutions, warning that repeated attacks threaten access to education in vulnerable communities.
The government insists operations will continue until every abducted child and teacher is safely returned, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding schools nationwide.
About the Author
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Oluwatobi Adu 
Chukwu Obinna