More than two weeks after a mass abduction shocked Nigeria, 100 students kidnapped from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, have been released, authorities confirmed on Monday. The attack occurred on November 21, when more than 300 people, mostly schoolchildren were seized by armed men who stormed the boarding school in northern Nigeria. Around 50 students managed to escape within hours, but the rest were taken into remote forest areas by the captors.
Local media report that the newly freed students were transported to Abuja for medical checks and debriefing, and will be returned to Niger State later today. Officials have not said whether the release came through negotiations, a rescue mission, or a combination of both. The condition and whereabouts of the remaining captives remain unknown. Nigeria continues to face escalating threats from armed groups in its northern and central regions. Bandit gangs, jihadist factions linked to Boko Haram, and militants crossing from the wider Sahel have all contributed to rising kidnappings and attacks on rural communities.
Schools are frequent targets because abductors use mass kidnappings to pressure authorities into paying ransoms or offering concessions. Just days before the Papiri attack, 25 girls were kidnapped in nearby Kebbi State. No group has claimed responsibility for either incident. Authorities say efforts to locate and rescue the remaining students are ongoing.
