The remaining pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, have regained their freedom, security sources confirmed on Sunday.
According to The PUNCH, security official familiar with the rescue operation told Premium Times that the latest release accounts for all the victims taken during the November 21 attack on the boarding school.
Although the exact number of those freed could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, Mr. Sunday Dare, confirmed that 130 pupils were released in the latest operation.
“Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” Dare announced in a brief post on X on Sunday.
The students were abducted when armed gunmen stormed the school in the early hours of November 21.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles around 2:00 a.m., moving from one dormitory to another before leading the captives into nearby forests.
The incident sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of schools, particularly in rural communities vulnerable to bandit attacks.
In the days following the abduction, the Christian Association of Nigeria disclosed that about 50 students escaped during the raid, while several others were taken away by the attackers.
In response, the Federal Government deployed ground troops and aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states, while border communities were placed under heightened security.
President Bola Tinubu also cancelled an official trip to personally oversee rescue efforts, as authorities ordered the temporary closure of schools across Niger State and some federal institutions considered high-risk.
On December 8, security agencies secured the release of about 100 abductees, leaving an unspecified number in captivity until the latest breakthrough.
The release of the 130 pupils brings the total number of rescued victims to 230 students and teachers.
