Home News A hundred schoolchildren freed after being abducted in northern Nigeria last month were welcomed home on Monday at a ceremony in Minna, the capital of Niger state.
News

A hundred schoolchildren freed after being abducted in northern Nigeria last month were welcomed home on Monday at a ceremony in Minna, the capital of Niger state.

Share
Share

The students and their parents were received by officials at Niger Government House.

No details of their release, or their time in captivity, have been made public.

“Merely looking at them, I can’t say this is their condition, but we all know that for being over two weeks in captivity, those children certainly need some help,” said Theresa Pamma of UNICEF Nigeria. “One maybe medical checkup would be very, very critical for them.”

At least 303 schoolchildren were seized in Niger State together with 12 of their teachers when gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community on 21 November. Fifty escaped in the hours that followed, and at least 150 are still held.

“Today is fundamental and very, very important to redefining the history of this state,” Mohammed Umar Bago, Niger State Governor, said as he addressed the families at Monday’s ceremony.

“I want to thank Mr. President for giving us all the necessary input to rescue these children. For those that have been praying, continue to pray. We wish to recover the remaining students that are still in captivity, and by the grace of God, in a very short time from now, we’re going to record it, inshallah.”

The Pipiri kidnapping is the latest of a series of mass abductions in northern Nigeria. No group has claimed responsibility but locals blamed armed gangs that target schools for ransom.

Earlier in November, 25 schoolchildren were abducted in similar circumstances in neighboring Kebbi state. A church in the southern Kwara state was also attacked around the same time—the 38 worshipers seized in that attack last month have also been freed.

Nigerian authorities usually do not say much about rescue efforts, and arrests in such cases are rare. Analysts say that’s because ransoms are usually paid. Officials do not admit payment of ransoms.

Under pressure at home and from US President Donald Trump—who has alleged that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria’s security crisis—Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has promised he will not stop until all hostages are freed.

Share

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Don't Miss

Africa Polling Institute Strengthens Capacity of Policy Executives and Media Practitioners on Social Cohesion

In a strategic effort to strengthen national unity, responsible governance, and informed public discourse, the Africa Polling Institute (API), with support from the...

Nigeria and the Philippines Renew a 65-Year Partnership With Fresh Ambition Across Trade, Education and Technology

Nigeria and the Philippines have signalled a clear intent to take their six-decade bilateral relationship into a new and more ambitious chapter, following...

Related Articles

Taiwan’s preparations to face a Chinese attack are not a provocation, senior official says

Taiwan has defended its efforts to strengthen national defence, insisting that preparations...

UNICEF: More than 300 children killed in Sudan in last six months

UNICEF has warned that the conflict in Sudan is exacting a devastating...

Zimbabwe restores power after nationwide blackout, ZESA says

Zimbabwe’s state owned power utility, ZESA, says electricity has been restored to...

South African rand softens after foreign reserves fall

South Africa’s rand weakened against the U.S. dollar after the country’s latest...