All the schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Niger State, have now been released, following the freedom of the final group of 130 victims, bringing the total number of rescued pupils to 230.
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Officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) confirmed the development to newsmen on Sunday.
The successful release brings an end to days of anxiety and uncertainty for families of the victims and marks a significant breakthrough for security agencies involved in the rescue operation.
The pupils were abducted after gunmen attacked the boarding school, an incident that sparked nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of educational institutions across the country.
Authorities said the release of all the victims was achieved through sustained security pressure and coordinated efforts by relevant agencies.
They did not, however, disclose details of the operation.
The incident has intensified calls from stakeholders for enhanced protection of schools and more decisive action to prevent a recurrence of such attacks, as concerns over insecurity continue to dominate public discourse in Nigeria.
The St. Mary’s Catholic School abduction is the latest in a series of attacks on educational institutions in Nigeria, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions.
In recent years, bandits and terrorist groups have increasingly targeted schools, seeing them as soft targets for mass kidnappings and ransom collection.
Such incidents have had a devastating impact on the education sector, with many schools forced to close temporarily or permanently, and parents withdrawing their children from boarding schools out of fear for their safety.
The psychological trauma inflicted on abducted children, their families, and entire communities remains a major concern for child welfare advocates and mental health professionals.
While the successful rescue of all 230 pupils is a welcome development, questions remain about how to prevent future attacks and ensure the safety of students across Nigeria’s educational institutions.
Security experts have called for a multi-pronged approach including:
- Enhanced security infrastructure at schools
- Better intelligence gathering and sharing
- Increased security presence in vulnerable communities
- Addressing the root causes of banditry and terrorism
The release of the final batch of abducted pupils will bring immense relief to their families and the Papiri community.
Parents and guardians who have endured days of anguish and uncertainty can now be reunited with their children.
Further updates are expected as the rescued children undergo medical evaluation and debriefing, and as authorities continue their efforts to apprehend those responsible for the abduction.
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