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

The attack occurred on November 21, 2025, when armed bandits invaded the remote community around 2:00 a.m., riding on motorbikes. The assailants raided school dormitories for nearly three hours, abducting 315 individuals, 303 students and 12 teachers.

In the hours that followed, security forces and local hunters launched intensive search operations across surrounding forests. Fifty pupils managed to escape within the first 24 hours and were reunited with their families, leaving 265 victims still in captivity at the time.

The Federal Government swiftly escalated its response, enforcing a 24-hour security cordon and initiating aerial surveillance across parts of Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi States. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also cancelled scheduled international engagements to oversee rescue efforts.

Authorities subsequently ordered the closure of all schools in Niger State and several federal institutions in high-risk zones as precautionary measures.

While the release of the 100 schoolchildren brings relief to distraught families, many victims including children and teachers remain in captivity, prompting continued pressure on security agencies to intensify rescue operations.