The Federal Government has confirmed that all 130 schoolchildren and staff kidnapped from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, have been released and reunited with their families, marking the end of one of Nigeria’s most high-profile abduction crises of 2025. Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare announced on 21 December 2025 that no abductee remains in captivity, following weeks of coordinated rescue efforts.
The mass abduction occurred on 21 November 2025, when armed gunmen stormed the school in the early hours, taking hundreds of students and staff into nearby forests. Initial security operations secured the freedom of some pupils shortly after the attack, and a subsequent rescue of around 100 children was confirmed in early December. The latest operation brought the total accounted for to 230 pupils and teachers freed, closing a chapter that had gripped national attention and deepened concerns about school security.
Security forces, led by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and supported by military and police units, executed the final rescue in a forested area between parts of Niger State on Friday evening. The released pupils were formally handed over to state authorities and are expected to be reunited with their families ahead of the Christmas holiday season, following efforts by government officials to provide care and reintegration support.
Niger State authorities, clergy and community representatives expressed relief at the outcome, while security officials highlighted that the operation reaffirms national resolve to protect vulnerable populations and challenge armed groups that target schools. The release also drew commendations from civil society organisations and labour groups, who praised the Tinubu administration and security operatives for ending weeks of anguish for affected families.
