US EditionNigerian government frees 130 kidnapped Catholic schoolchildren
All 130 remaining pupils abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state have been freed following a military-intelligence operation, ending one of Nigeria’s largest mass kidnappings.
- Sunday, presidential spokesman Sunday Dare announced, `Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity`, confirming the final group from St Mary's in Papiri on December 22, 2025.
- Gunmen stormed St Mary's Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri on November 21, seizing more than 300 pupils and 12 staff while about 50 escaped immediately and 100 were freed earlier this month.
- Officials said a military-intelligence operation freed the pupils, and sources added they are being taken to Minna, Niger state capital, for medical checks and family reunions on Monday.
- The federal government described the release as a 'moment of triumph and relief' while President Bola Tinubu deployed ground troops and aerial surveillance and authorities temporarily closed some schools.
- Analysts note the raid echoes Chibok and counts remain inconsistent as the Christian Association of Nigeria cited 315 taken, while analysts say ransoms are usually paid.
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226 Articles
This is the last group of school children captured during the November abduction at St. Mary's Mixed Boarding School.
Authorities announce release of 130 more Catholic school students who were kidnapped in Niger State attack
Nigerian officials announced Dec. 21 that another 130 schoolchildren abducted last month by terrorists from a Catholic boarding school in Nigeria have been released. “The remaining… The post Authorities announce release of 130 more Catholic school students who were kidnapped in Niger State attack appeared first on CatholicVote org.
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All children kidnapped from Nigeria Catholic school will be home for Christmas
(OSV News) — Catholics in northwestern Nigeria are celebrating just days before Christmas, as the last group of students kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri has been freed. Church officials confirmed that the remaining 130 students were released on Dec. 21, ending a monthlong ordeal that began when more than 300 pupils were abducted from the diocesan school in Niger State. The school is owned by the Diocese of Kontagora and run …
One month after the kidnapping from a Catholic boarding school in Nigeria, the last 130 children are now free. Previously, primary school children had been released. It remains unclear whether ransom was paid.
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