- How Kidnapped Niger Schoolchildren Were Rescued – Presidency
- The rescue followed a coordinated military intelligence operation.
- The children are set to reunite with their families in Minna.
The Presidency has provided details on how the remaining schoolchildren kidnapped from St Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State were rescued through a coordinated military intelligence operation.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the disclosure was made on Sunday by the Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that the final batch of 130 pupils abducted by bandits had regained their freedom.
According to Onanuga, the students were taken from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, on November 21. He said the rescued children were expected to arrive in Minna on Monday before reuniting with their families ahead of the Christmas celebration.
In a post shared on his X account, Onanuga 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.”
The Presidency had earlier confirmed that no pupil from the school remains in captivity following the successful operation.
Also reacting, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Communication, Sunday Dare, announced the development in a separate post on X.
Dare wrote, “Another 130 Abducted Niger State Pupils Released, None Left In Captivity.”
His post was accompanied by a photograph showing smiling children alongside an adult, believed to be taken shortly after their release.
The rescue brings to a close weeks of anxiety for parents and residents of the Papiri community, following the abduction of the pupils by armed bandits.
Government officials have continued to emphasise the role of intelligence led security operations in securing the safe return of abducted victims across the country.
