FG secures release of 100 pupils abducted in Niger school attack

File photo: Map of Niger State

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The Federal Government has secured the release of 100 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in the Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

The development was reported by TVC News and Channels Television on Sunday, though federal authorities were yet to issue an official statement as of press time.

Gunmen had attacked the remote community on November 21, storming the school around 2 am on motorbikes and operating for nearly three hours.

They abducted 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers.

About 50 pupils managed to escape within the first 24 hours and were reunited with their families, leaving 265 victims in captivity.

Immediately after the attack, security agencies, including police tactical units and military forces, were deployed to the area, and operations were launched to comb nearby forests for the abductees.

The incident is one of the latest in a rising trend of kidnappings of schoolchildren in Nigeria.

In Kebbi State, on November 17, 2025, gunmen stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga (Dankowa-Wasagu LGA), abducting 25 girls and killing the vice principal.

Meanwhile, in Kwara State and other parts of north-central Nigeria, insecurity has deepened, prompting state authorities to shut down several schools and review security protocols after related attacks and threats.

Okiki is a journalist with over seven years experience covering politics, foreign news, society, entertainment and the film industry.

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