The remaining 115 students of St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, who were abducted by bandits, have regained their freedom, about one month after their kidnapping.

The schoolchildren were among 315 persons, including students and teachers, abducted in a midnight raid on the school on Nov. 21, 2025. 

The source reports that the attackers stormed the remote school community at about 2:00 a.m. and operated unhindered for nearly three hours.
During the attack, a total of 303 students and 12 teachers were forcefully taken away, triggering widespread outrage and a massive security response from the Federal Government.
Within 24 hours of the incident, 50 students reportedly escaped from captivity and were reunited with their families, leaving 265 persons in the hands of the abductors, including 253 children and all 12 teachers.
About two weeks ago, 100 of the abducted students were released and returned to their families, leaving 115 students still in captivity until their release on Friday evening.
Although there has been no official confirmation from the Niger State Government or security agencies, credible sources told that the remaining students were freed in a forest area located between Agwara and Borgu Local Government Areas of the state.
According to reports, security operatives attached to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) have been mobilised to evacuate the freed students under heavy security to ensure their safe return and medical evaluation.
A source familiar with the development disclosed that the release followed intensive negotiations between government representatives and the abductors.
However, as of the time of filing this report, it remains unclear whether any ransom was paid to secure the release of the students.
To address the crisis following the abduction, the Federal Government had earlier imposed a 24-hour security lockdown in the affected area and launched extensive aerial surveillance operations across parts of Niger, Kwara and Kebbi States.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was also reported to have cancelled a scheduled international trip at the time in order to personally oversee and coordinate the rescue efforts.
The abduction of students and teachers in Niger State has renewed concerns over the safety of schools, particularly in rural and remote communities, amid the continued activities of armed bandits across parts of the country.