Another 130 pupils from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have been released from captivity. This brings the total number of freed victims to 230, following the earlier release of about 100 pupils on December 8. The Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, confirmed the latest release, stating that no pupils remain in captivity.

The abduction occurred on November 21, when gunmen on motorcycles stormed the boarding school around 2 AM. The incident garnered significant concern regarding the escalating wave of insecurity across various parts of the country. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) later reported that 50 children managed to escape during the initial raid.

In response to the crisis, President Bola Tinubu deployed ground troops and initiated aerial surveillance in high-risk areas across Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states to track the kidnappers. Additionally, federal government colleges, several state-owned schools, and other federal institutions located in these high-risk regions were temporarily closed as a precautionary measure to ensure student safety.