Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has formally received the final batch of abducted students and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area, signalling the end of the mass kidnap crisis that began in November.
The remaining victims were handed over to the state government on Monday, December 22, by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, who was represented at the event by Major General Adamu Laka.
Speaking at the brief ceremony, Laka said security agencies had worked “tirelessly” from the day of the abduction to secure the safe rescue and return of all the children and staff.
He underlined the Federal Government’s commitment to policies that protect the rights and safety of every Nigerian child and pledged that security agencies would “continue implementing measures to safeguard the country and its citizens.”
Governor Bago, visibly emotional as he received the pupils and staff, expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the NSA for what he described as their swift intervention and decisive actions that led to the successful rescue.
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The Presidency had on Sunday announced the release of 130 more schoolchildren taken from St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School.
Presidential spokesperson, Sunday Dare, in a post on X, said, “Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity”.
More than 300 children, teachers and other staff were seized when gunmen stormed the Catholic school in the early hours of November 21.
On December 7, the Federal Government announced it had secured the release of 100 of the abducted children.
Governor Bago received that first group at the Niger State Government House. The arrival of the remaining students and staff now completes the return of all those taken from St. Mary’s.