Presidency, Niger police speak on release of remaining 130 Catholic school students

The Presidency and the Niger State Police Command have confirmed the release of the remaining 130 abducted students and staff of St. Mary Catholic School, Papiri in Agwara Local Government Area of the state.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on X on Sunday, said the students and teachers would arrive in Minna, the capital of Niger State, on Monday, December 22, 2025.

Onanuga added that the victims were rescued after a military-intelligence driven operation.

He wrote: “The remaining 130 schoolchildren abducted by terrorists at St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, on November 21, have now been released. They are expected to arrive in Minna on Monday and rejoin their parents for the Christmas celebration.

“One hundred were released earlier by the terrorists, taking the total of freed students to 230.

“The freedom of the schoolchildren followed a military-intelligence driven operation.”

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The Niger State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, also confirmed the development via a statement issued on Sunday.

Abiodun said the remaining victims were released on Sunday, bringing an end to the ordeal of the abducted students and staff of the school.

Abiodun noted that 130 victims, including staff members of the school, were released by terrorists.

The police spokesman assured the public that further developments on the matter would be communicated as necessary.

The victims were abducted on November 21, while the first batch of about 100 students were rescued on December 8, following security operations.

The Star