All 230 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, have now been released, bringing a tense and emotional chapter to a close for families, church authorities, and the wider community.

According to officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser, the final group of 130 pupils was freed over the weekend, completing the rescue of every child taken during the attack. The confirmation was given to ARISE News Channel on Sunday.

Kidnapping Sparked National Outrage

The pupils were kidnapped on November 21, 2025, when armed gunmen invaded the boarding school in Papiri community. The attack triggered nationwide condemnation and renewed debate about the safety of schools, particularly in rural and semi rural areas across northern Nigeria.

Parents and guardians endured days of fear and uncertainty as security agencies worked to locate and free the children. Community leaders and religious groups also issued repeated appeals for urgent action.

Security Agencies Credit Sustained Pressure

According to reports, the successful release was achieved through coordinated efforts by security agencies and sustained pressure on the abductors. Officials have not disclosed operational details, but described the outcome as a major breakthrough in the ongoing fight against school abductions.

Meanwhile, public attention has shifted to calls for stronger preventive measures. Education advocates and civil society groups are urging authorities to improve school security and ensure that similar attacks do not occur again.

Earlier Release Came With Mixed Emotions

Earlier in December, the release of 100 abductees had offered a measure of relief, though many children were still being held at the time.

Providing an update then, the Congregation Leader of the OLA Sisters, Sr. Mary T. Barron, confirmed the partial release but warned that dozens of pupils remained in captivity under harsh conditions.

“It was with great joy we welcomed the news on 14 December that 100 people had been freed,” she said in a statement. According to her, those released included 14 secondary school students, one staff member, 80 primary school pupils, and five nursery school children.

However, she noted that the relief was incomplete. “This joy is tempered with ongoing anguish and concern for the safety of the remaining 165,” the statement added, referring to 11 staff members, 35 nursery pupils, and 119 primary school children aged between five and 12 or 13.

School Ownership and Church Response

St. Mary’s Catholic School is managed by the OLA Sisters and owned by the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, which falls under the Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province. Church authorities had consistently appealed for the safe return of the children, while also calling for improved protection for faith based schools.

With all pupils now reunited with their families, attention is expected to turn to rehabilitation, trauma support, and renewed discussions on safeguarding schools nationwide.