The Federal Government has secured the release of 100 kids abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State.

The development was reported by TVC News and Channels Television on Sunday.

On November 21, 2025, bandits raided the remote Papiri village around 2:00 a.m., arriving on motorcycles and storming the school dormitories for more than three hours. By the time they left, 315 persons, including 303 kids and 12 teachers, had been seized.

In the first 24 hours after the abduction, 50 students escaped and were reunited with their families. However, 265 people, including 253 children and all 12 teachers, remained in captivity.

Security agents and local hunters were promptly mobilized to explore the surrounding forests for the missing victims.

The federal government intensified  the operation by imposing a 24-hour security restriction and conducting aerial surveillance across Niger, Kwara, and Kebbi states.

President Bola Tinubu also canceled overseas activities to address the problem.

Following the incident, the government ordered the indefinite lockdown of all schools in Niger State, as well as many federal institutions in high-risk locations, pending additional security evaluations.

As of the time of reporting this article, the circumstances surrounding the release of the 100 pupils, is still unknown.

Nuhu Ribadu, the President’s National Security Adviser (NSA), assured parents and school administrators last Monday that the abducted students are safe and will return soon .