About 100 children abducted from a Catholic school in central Nigeria last month have been freed. The pupils arrived in Minna, the Niger state capital, on Monday, 8 December. They were transported in minibuses with a military escort.
The release comes after gunmen attacked St Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community on 21 November. More than 300 students and 12 staff members were initially taken during the pre-dawn raid.
The freed children were received by the Niger state governor, Umar Bago. He confirmed the students would undergo medical examinations before being reunited with their families.
Details surrounding the release remain unclear. Officials have not confirmed if a ransom was paid or if force was used. Ransom payments are officially illegal in Nigeria. However, it is widely believed they still occur.
While this marks a significant breakthrough, more than 150 students and 12 staff are still being held by the unidentified gunmen. President Bola Tinubu commended the security agencies for their work. He reiterated his directive that all abducted Nigerians must be rescued. The kidnapping is part of a recent wave of mass abductions targeting schools and communities in the region.
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No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, criminal gangs seeking ransom payments are often blamed for such incidents. These gangs have increasingly targeted schools and places of worship in northern and central Nigeria.
The attack on St Mary’s was one of several recent mass kidnapping events. Similar incidents occurred in the neighbouring states of Kwara and Kebbi just days before. The victims in those cases have since been freed.
Parents of the abducted children expressed their anguish. Many learned of the partial release through the media. They are anxiously waiting for news about whether their children are among those freed.
The government is under pressure to address the ongoing violence. The frequent attacks have disrupted communities and created a climate of fear. For now, the focus remains on securing the safe return of the remaining hostages.
Image via Al Jazeera.
