Last Group of Freed Nigerian Schoolchildren Set to Reunite With Families

Post by : Saif Nasser

The final group of Nigerian schoolchildren who were kidnapped last month is expected to reunite with their families, bringing relief and joy after weeks of fear and uncertainty. The children were freed on Sunday and are due to return home in time for Christmas celebrations.

A total of 130 children were released in the latest phase, ending a month-long ordeal that began on November 21. On that day, more than 300 pupils and 12 staff members were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, a remote community in Niger state, central Nigeria. The incident was one of the worst school kidnappings the country has seen in recent years and drew widespread local and international concern.

According to the Nigerian presidency, the freed children will be taken to the state capital, Minna, where they will be reunited with their families. Earlier this month, 100 students were released, while about 50 children managed to escape shortly after the abduction.

The government said the latest release followed a military and intelligence-led operation, though officials did not share details about how the children were freed. It remains unclear whether negotiations or ransom payments were involved, or if security forces carried out a direct rescue. There was also no immediate information about the fate of the 12 staff members who were kidnapped alongside the students.

The kidnapping caused strong public anger and renewed debate over insecurity in northern Nigeria. Armed gangs, often referred to locally as bandits, frequently target schools and rural communities for ransom. These attacks have continued despite repeated government promises to end them. School abductions became a major issue after the 2014 kidnapping of 276 schoolgirls by Boko Haram militants in Chibok, an event that shocked the world.

Church leaders welcomed the children’s release and thanked authorities and security agencies for their efforts. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora expressed deep gratitude to everyone involved in securing the students’ freedom, including humanitarian partners who supported the process.

Mass kidnappings remain a serious challenge in Nigeria’s northern and central regions, where vast rural areas and weak security make it hard for authorities to control armed groups. While the government says these gangs target both Christians and Muslims, the continued attacks have left many families fearful about sending their children to school.

As the freed children prepare to return home, their reunion with loved ones offers a moment of hope and relief. However, the incident also highlights the urgent need for stronger security measures to protect schools and prevent such tragedies from happening again.