Nigeria’s Recent School Kidnapping Crisis: 130 Students and Staff Released After 30 Days
A recent school kidnapping in Nigeria has ended with the release of 130 students and staff of St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Niger State, after 30 days in captivity. The abduction, which occurred on November 21, was one of the largest school kidnappings in recent months, leaving Nigerian authorities and security forces on high alert.
The terrorists, believed to be from the Boko Haram group, stormed the school in the early hours, rounding up 315 people, including students and staff. While about 50 people escaped, 265 were taken away, according to school officials. The students, aged between 6 and 18, were moved through seven villages for two days before disappearing into the Kainji forest reserve.
The state authorities initially tried to politicize the abduction, blaming the school for disregarding security warnings. However, the school authorities countered these claims. For nearly two weeks, there was little public information on the captives’ whereabouts, leaving families anxious and uncertain.
On December 7, the Nigerian government secured the release of 100 captives, offering a glimmer of hope to families still waiting. After the initial release, attention shifted to the fate of those still in captivity. The school management and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported that 165 people were still being held.
On December 22, another 130 students and staff were released, bringing an end to the 30-day ordeal. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, which owns the school, confirmed the latest release, stating that all captives were now free. The school proprietor, Bulus Yohanna, confirmed that 230 pupils and staff members were abducted, contrary to the initial figure of 265.
The Papiri abduction is the latest reminder of Nigeria’s enduring school safety crisis, which has seen at least 10 mass abductions targeting over 1,700 students in formal and informal schools since the Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped a decade ago. The conditions under which the captives were released have not been disclosed, amidst allegations of prisoner exchanges and ransom payments. President Bola Tinubu has stated that the means of release are secondary to the fact that the children are now free. The incident highlights the need for increased efforts to ensure school safety and prevent such kidnappings in the future.