Niger State about a hundred kids who were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic school in Papiri have finally been handed back to their families. The children, many in football jerseys and long robes, rolled into the Niger State Government House in white buses, escorted by a dozen military vans and armoured vehicles. Governor Bago greeted them with a warm “Welcome,” shook hands and led them into a hall where the emir and local officials were waiting
The release came just a day after federal authorities secured the children’s freedom. Out of the 315 people taken – 303 students and 12 teachers – 50 managed to escape shortly after the raid, but 165 remain missing. The freed pupils are mostly between 10 and 17 years old, though the school also enrols younger children
Governor Bago thanked President Bola Tinubu and the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, for their “swift and coordinated intervention.” He assured parents that medical teams are already checking the children’s health and that the state, together with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), UNICEF and other partners, is working to bring the remaining captives home 
The kidnapping, which happened on November 21 in the remote village of Papiri, has drawn national and international attention, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in Nigeria’s north‑central region. The federal government has ordered the indefinite closure of schools in Niger State and several federal institutions in high‑risk areas
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