Insecurity: 115 remaining students of Niger’s Catholic School regain freedom

*Release of the 115 remaining students from captivity was an ‘intensive negotiation’ between the Federal Government, security operatives, and the terrorists, says report quoting a source privy to the development

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

The 115 remaining students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, in captivity have regained their freedom.

The school children’s release from their captors has come barely a month after terrorists abducted 315 of them, including their teachers, in a midnight raid.

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The children were part of the 315 persons seized November 21, 2025, when armed bandits stormed the remote school community around 2:00 a.m., operating unhindered for nearly three hours, reports noted.

The attackers has abducted 303 students and 12 teachers, prompting a massive security response.

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Insecurity: 115 Remaining Students Of Niger’s Catholic School Regain Freedom

In the first 24 hours after the attack, 50 of the students escaped and were reunited with their families, leaving 265 others with their abductors, including 253 children and all 12 teachers.

Subsequently, 100 of the children were released two weeks ago, and have been since been reunited with their families, according to the school management.

Although there is no official confirmation of the release of the 115 remaining school children, the students were released Friday evening in far away forest between Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state, according to report.

It was gathered that security agents from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Abuja, have been mobilised for evacuation of the children under heavy security.

Besides, a source privy to the release of the remaining children said it was an intensive negotiation between the government and the terrorists.

Report also indicated that it was uncertain if ransom was paid for the release of the 115 students.

In a move to contain the banditry and kidnapping crisis, the Federal Government had enforced a 24-hour security lockdown across the affected area, and launched wide-ranging aerial surveillance covering parts of Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also cancelled a scheduled international trip to oversee the rescue operations personally.

Equally, Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago of Niger State cancelled all his official engagements, and his proposed brief holiday and ordered prayers for the release of the remaining children.

The governor also ordered the closure of all schools in Niger State and several other Federal institutions in high-risk areas to prevent further attacks.

The National Security Adviser (NSA) Nuhu Ribadu, accompanied with other Federal Government delegation visited Kontagora to meet the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese, Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and distraught parents of the abducted children.

Ribadu during the meeting assured them that the pupils were in stable condition and would soon be returned safely.

The NSA reportedly assures the people, declaring “God is with them and God is with us. Evil will never win.

“They are going to come back. I give you that assurance.”

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