Tinubu welcomes release of 100 Niger pupils, orders rescue of others

Goernor Umar Bago of Niger State receiving rescued Niger schoolchildren at Government House... Credit: NTA

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President Bola Tinubu on Monday welcomed the release of 100 students abducted from Papiri Catholic School, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

He also directed security agencies to secure the immediate freedom of the remaining 115 pupils and their teachers still in captivity.

“I rejoice with Governor Umar Bago and commend our security agencies for their steadfast work,” the President said in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“My directive remains that all the students and other abducted Nigerians must be rescued and brought back home safely. We must account for all the victims,” the statement quoted the President as saying.

Tinubu said the Federal Government is working with the Niger State Government to reunite the children with their families and to strengthen security around schools nationwide.

“From now on, our security agencies, working with the governors, must prevent future kidnappings. Our children should no longer be sitting ducks for heartless terrorists,” he added.

The Papiri attack occurred on November 21 when gunmen stormed the St. Mary’s Catholic School compound at daybreak, abducting more than 200 children and staff.

The latest rescue brings the number of those freed to 100, with 115 still held, Tinubu noted.

Mass school abductions have plagued Nigeria since Boko Haram seized 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014, triggering a wave of copy-cat kidnappings for ransom.

Niger State has suffered repeated attacks, including the February 2021 Kagara abduction of students and staff, while recent weeks have seen coordinated raids on schools and worship centres in Kebbi and Kwara states.

In his declaration of a security emergency on November 26, Tinubu ordered a surge of operations to protect schools, farms and places of worship, insisting service chiefs coordinate closely with state governments.

According to Onanuga, those efforts contributed to Monday’s release and would be intensified until all the Papiri hostages are rescued.

“The Federal Government will continue to work with Niger State and other states to secure our schools and make the learning environment safer and more conducive,” Tinubu affirmed.

With three years of experience, Stephen, The PUNCH correspondent, has been covering Nigeria’s presidency, politics, security, immigration and trafficking in persons

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