The Nigerian presidency has announced the successful rescue of the remaining 130 schoolchildren abducted by bandits from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State. The students were freed on Sunday, December 21, following a strategic military-intelligence-led operation.
The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the development via a statement on X. He noted that this final group brings the total number of freed students to 230, after 100 others were released earlier by the terrorists.
According to Onanuga:
“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.”
The students are expected to arrive in Minna today, Monday, December 22, to be reunited with their families in time for the holidays. This rescue marks the conclusion of a month-long ordeal for the Papiri community following the mass abduction in late November.
