Governor Umar Bago of Niger State has received the 100 abducted pupils of St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, whose release was secured by the Federal Government.
The children, conveyed in separate buses, arrived at the Niger State Government House at about 5:20 p.m. on Monday and were formally handed over to the state by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). The National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, was represented at the ceremony by Wing Commander Abdullahi Idi Hong.
While handing over the pupils, Hong said security agencies had worked tirelessly since the November 21 abduction to ensure the safe rescue and return of the children. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the rights and safety of every Nigerian child, adding that security institutions remain resolute in safeguarding lives and property nationwide.
Receiving the pupils, Governor Bago thanked President Bola Tinubu and NSA Ribadu for their swift and coordinated intervention, which he said made the children’s release possible. He assured parents and the public that efforts continue to secure the remaining abductees still in captivity, expressing optimism that they would soon be reunited with their families.
He described the return of the children as a significant moment in the history of Niger State, noting that he was deeply moved by their tender ages and large number. The governor directed medical personnel to carry out comprehensive physical and psychological assessments on the pupils.
Bago also disclosed that the state government is working with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), UNICEF, and other partners to strengthen child protection systems and ensure the safe return of all remaining abducted students.
The Federal Government had earlier announced the rescue of the 100 pupils on Sunday.
Earlier on Monday, however, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, said it had not received any official notification regarding the reported release. In a statement, its chairman, Bishop Bulus Yohanna, said it would be “a thing of joy” if some of the children had been freed but noted that the association had not been formally informed.
Bandits attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School in Papiri on November 21, 2025, abducting 315 people—303 students and 12 teachers. Fifty pupils escaped within the first 24 hours, but 265 individuals remained in captivity until Sunday’s release of 100 pupils, leaving 165 still held.
The mass abduction sparked local and international outrage, including a reaction from Pope Leo XIV. The Federal Government responded by imposing a 24-hour security cordon and launching aerial surveillance across parts of Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States. President Tinubu also cancelled planned international travel to coordinate the national response.
Authorities subsequently ordered the indefinite closure of all schools in Niger State and several federal institutions in high-risk areas.
Last week, NSA Ribadu visited the school in Papiri, where he assured school authorities and parents that the abducted children would be safely returned.
“God is with them and God is with us. Evil will never win. They are going to come back. I give you that assurance,” Ribadu said during a visit to the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, and parents of the abducted pupils at St. Michael’s Catholic Cathedral, Kontagora.
