More kidnapped schoolchildren freed in Nigeria
130 more pupils from St Mary’s co-educational boarding school in Papiri, Niger state, have been released, with none remaining in captivity according to presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare. This release follows an earlier December release of about 100 pupils, bringing the total number freed so far from the November kidnapping to over 230.
The exact number kidnapped from St Mary’s remains unclear. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has put the total at 315, while government updates estimate that about 115 pupils were still being held after earlier December releases.
UN sources reported that the remaining pupils will be moved to Minna, the Niger state capital, on Tuesday.
This abduction is part of a recent surge in mass kidnappings in Nigeria, reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls incident.
The Nigerian government and independent analysts reject the US framing of the killings as genocide, a claim associated with former US President Donald Trump.
The broader security context includes jihadist militants operating in the northeast and armed bandits in the northwest, contributing to nationwide insecurity affecting communities including both Christians and Muslims.
