All students and staff abducted during a November 21 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Niger State, Nigeria, have been released as of December 22, 2025, according to presidential spokespersons. The operation marks the conclusion of one of Nigeria’s largest mass kidnappings in recent years, with over 300 initially taken.
Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare confirmed the release of the final 130 captives in a social media statement, though details about negotiations or rescue tactics remain undisclosed. The abduction occurred when armed assailants stormed the co-educational facility in Papiri, sparking nationwide outrage and a weeks-long recovery effort.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier announced the rescue of 100 individuals on December 8, following 50 students’ self-escape shortly after the attack. The latest release, described by spokesman Bayo Onanuga as a "military-intelligence driven" success, allows families to reunite with their children ahead of Christmas. The freed group is expected to arrive in Minna, Niger State’s capital, on December 23.
While authorities celebrate the resolution, the incident underscores persistent security challenges in Nigeria’s northern regions, where kidnappings for ransom have escalated since 2020. Analysts anticipate renewed debates about rural protection strategies as schools resume operations in January 2026.
