The final group of 115 students abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have been freed, bringing the total number of rescued children to approximately 265.
Officials have confirmed the development, marking the end of a month-long ordeal that began with a deadly attack by armed gunmen on November 21, 2025. The bandits stormed the boarding school in the early hours, abducting 303 students and 12 teachers in one of the largest mass kidnappings in recent Nigerian history.
Earlier, 50 students managed to escape shortly after the abduction, while 100 others were released on December 8 following intensive security operations. The latest release of the remaining 115 students ends days of anguish for families and represents a significant success for security agencies involved in the rescue efforts.
