The 230 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have been released, Nigerian authorities confirmed Sunday, ending weeks of uncertainty for families and communities shaken by the mass kidnapping.
The final group of 130 students was released over the weekend, bringing the total number of children freed to 230. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said the children were expected to arrive in Minna on Monday and reunite with their parents ahead of Christmas.
“The remaining 130 schoolchildren abducted by terrorists at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, on November 21, have now been released,” Onanuga said. He attributed the outcome to a “military intelligence–driven operation,” but did not address whether ransom was paid.
The release brings relief to families but has reignited national debate over Nigeria’s worsening security crisis and the relentless wave of kidnappings that continues to grip the country.
From schools and highways to farms and private homes, abductions have become routine, underscoring what critics describe as a failure of decisive state action against armed groups operating with near impunity.
Just days before the schoolchildren’s release, suspected herdsmen reportedly killed a poultry farmer and shot his son near a farm in Delta State. The son survived with injuries. The incident is one of several violent attacks recorded across the country in recent days.
On Sunday, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke warned of the growing risk of bandits infiltrating his state from neighbouring Kwara, urging the Nigerian Army to sustain robust security operations along border areas.
Civil society groups say the crisis shows no sign of abating. Atrocities Watch Africa (AWA), a non-partisan organisation focused on preventing mass violence, warned that Nigeria’s security situation is deteriorating rapidly.
“Nigeria’s security crisis is worsening, with insurgency, banditry, communal violence and kidnappings overwhelming the state,” the group said. “Without urgent action to address these threats and their root causes—such as unemployment and weak governance—the country risks further violence and potential mass atrocities.”
While the release of the Papiri schoolchildren marks a rare positive outcome, analysts warn that without sustained reforms and decisive security action, kidnappings will remain a defining feature of daily life in Africa’s most populous nation.
