The remaining 130 students and teachers kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have regained their freedom, marking the end of a harrowing captivity that gripped the nation. Gunmen on motorcycles stormed the boarding school around 2:00 a.m. on November 21, 2025, ransacking dormitories for nearly three hours and abducting scores while at least 50 pupils escaped amid chaos. About 100 victims were released on December 8 through security operations, leaving the final batch until this latest breakthrough, with the freed abductees now en route to Minna for medical checks and family reunions.
President Bola Tinubu's administration mobilized troops, aerial surveillance, and a security cordon across Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara borders, even prompting him to cancel an overseas trip for direct oversight. Schools in high-risk Niger areas were shuttered temporarily, highlighting the school's prior defiance of closure orders amid rising threats. Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare confirmed the full release on X, stating "Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity," accompanied by images of smiling children.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun hailed the outcome as proof that "evil forces will not prevail over Nigeria," crediting sustained security measures for restoring public trust and urging prosecution of the bandits. This resolution follows a wave of abductions, including 25 girls from a Kebbi school days earlier, underscoring Nigeria's persistent security crisis in the North-Central region. Families expressed overwhelming relief, with one relative of abducted nieces aged 6 to 13 pleading for their safe return during the ordeal. Authorities anticipate no further captives, closing a chapter on the St. Mary’s tragedy that fueled nationwide outrage and demands for robust anti-kidnapping action.