There is palpable unease following the silence from the Federal and Niger State governments over whether or not the 115 remaining schoolchildren of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have been released as being touted on the streets of Minna, the Niger State capital, and in the media.
The students were abducted, alongside 200 others, by armed bandits on 21 November 2025, have reportedly regained their freedom.
The touted release, which comes about a month after the mass kidnapping, was said to have taken place on Friday evening in a forest between Agwara and Borgu local government areas of the state.
Everyday.ng learnt that the state governor, Mohammed Bago, who is presently in Abuja has been awaiting confirmation from the Office of the National Security Adviser and Ministry of Information as to the authenticity of the report before confirming the news.
Reports indicate that security operatives from the Office of the National Security Adviser have been mobilised to escort the freed children to safety under tight security.
The abductees were part of a larger group of 315 victims — including students and teachers — seized when gunmen stormed the remote boarding school in the early hours of 21 November, operating for nearly three hours and overwhelming local security.
In the initial hours after the attack, about 50 pupils escaped from their captors and safely reunited with their families. Two weeks ago, 100 of the kidnapped children were released and returned home, offering a glimmer of hope to anxious families.
A source said to be familiar with the negotiation process said the release followed intensive discussions between government representatives and the kidnappers, but it is unclear whether a ransom was paid.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who earlier welcomed the release of the first batch of children and called for intensified efforts to secure the freedom of all abductees, had directed security agencies to spare no effort in bringing all victims home safely.
The spate of school kidnappings in Nigeria has drawn national and international condemnation, highlighting ongoing security challenges in parts of the country. The successful release of the remaining St. Mary’s pupils, if officially confirmed, will be seen as a significant relief to families and communities affected by the crisis.
