When the buses carrying the rescued students and teachers arrived at the Government House in Minna on Monday, a hush fell over the compound. Moments later, tears flowed, prayers were offered, and families embraced their loved ones.
The remaining 130 pupils and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, had finally returned home.
For weeks, their absence had cast a shadow over Niger State, leaving classrooms as stark reminders of fear and uncertainty for families and the broader community.
Governor Mohammed Bago welcomed the rescued children and teachers at the Government House, describing their return as a moment of immense relief. He praised the resilience of families who had endured weeks of anxiety since armed men raided the school.
“This is very emotional,” the governor said, reflecting on the ages of the children. “We are grateful they are back safe and sound.”
The Papiri abduction occurred amid a rising wave of attacks on schools across northern Nigeria, where armed groups have increasingly targeted students, educators, and rural communities, reigniting national debates on school safety and the long-term effects of insecurity on children’s education.
Some students had been released earlier, but the fate of the remaining group had kept parents and relatives in a state of deep worry.
At the reception, some children appeared withdrawn, while others clung to friends and siblings. Teachers showed visible signs of exhaustion. Health and psychological support teams were on hand to provide immediate care before reuniting the victims with their families.
Governor Bago commended President Bola Tinubu for authorising sustained rescue operations. He also acknowledged the efforts of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, the service chiefs, and various security agencies, as well as the quiet contributions of traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community members who supported the rescue behind the scenes.
Major-General Adamu Garba Laka, National Coordinator of the Counter-Terrorism Centre, representing the NSA, stated that the rescue resulted from a presidential directive coordinating operations by the State Security Service, the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, and other agencies, with support from international partners. He added that the NSA’s office would continue working with states and communities to implement preventive, community-based security measures aimed at protecting schools and ensuring children can learn safely.
For parents in Papiri, Monday was a day of reunion rather than policy. After weeks of anxiety, their children were back, alive and safe, marking the end of a long and painful ordeal and the beginning of healing.
Background to the Papiri Abduction
The students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School on 21 November were seized when armed assailants on motorcycles stormed the boarding school around 2:00 a.m. The attackers moved systematically through dormitories for nearly three hours before taking their captives into nearby forests.
At least 50 students escaped during the raid. On 8 December, security forces secured the release of around 100 abductees, leaving a number still in captivity until Monday’s rescue.
Sources revealed that the victims were freed from forests near the Nigeria-Benin Republic border and transported by bus to Minna, a journey lasting over 10 hours.
Following the abduction, the Federal Government deployed troops and aerial surveillance across Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara States, imposed security cordons around border communities, and temporarily closed schools in high-risk areas. President Tinubu also cancelled an official trip to personally oversee the rescue efforts.
