More kidnapped schoolchildren freed in Nigeria
130 more pupils abducted from St Mary’s co-educational boarding school in Papiri, Niger state, have been released, bringing the total number freed from the November incident to about 230. The release was announced by presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare on X, accompanied by a photo of the smiling children. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had initially estimated that 315 students and staff were kidnapped; about 50 managed to escape, while around 100 had been released on 7 December. President Tinubu later said that roughly 115 remained in captivity. A United Nations source stated that the remaining abductees were expected to be moved to Minna, the capital of Niger state, on Tuesday. The November kidnapping at St Mary’s took place amid Nigeria’s broader pattern of mass abductions and ongoing security challenges. The incident has been linked to jihadist groups operating in the northeast and armed 'bandit' gangs in the northwest, highlighting the country's multiple security crises. In related discourse, U.S. President Trump alleged genocide against Christians in Nigeria, a framing that has been rejected by the Nigerian government and analysts.
