The Nigerian government has reportedly secured the release of 100 schoolchildren who were among more than 300 abducted from a Catholic boarding school last month, according to local media reports.
Details of the Agwara School Kidnapping
On 21 November 2025, armed attackers stormed St Mary's School in Agwara, located in Niger state. The assailants seized 303 children and 12 teachers in one of the country's worst mass kidnappings to date. Some of the children were as young as six years old.
In the immediate aftermath, at least 50 of the pupils managed to escape within two days. However, for weeks there was no official information on the fate of the remaining children and staff, causing anguish for families and the local community.
Confusion and Cautious Hope Surround Release
The reported release of 100 children was announced by local broadcaster Channels Television, though specific details of the operation were not immediately provided. The development has been met with cautious optimism mixed with official uncertainty.
Daniel Atori, a spokesperson for the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), which first reported the scale of the abduction, stated that the organisation had not been formally notified. "We are not officially aware and have not been duly notified by the federal government," Mr Atori said. "We hope and pray it's true and will be looking forward to when the remaining will be released."
Authorities in Niger state also said they had not received official confirmation, and the federal government has yet to issue a public comment on the matter.
A Persistent National Crisis
This horrific incident is part of a long-running epidemic of school abductions in Nigeria. The attack in Niger state occurred just days after 25 schoolgirls were kidnapped from a boarding school in neighbouring Kebbi state.
Since the infamous 2014 abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram extremists, at least 1,500 students have been taken from schools across the country. These kidnappings, often for ransom or political leverage, have created a climate of fear and severely disrupted education in affected regions.
Nigeria's security situation has recently faced increased international scrutiny. This followed remarks by former US President Donald Trump, who threatened military action over the treatment of Christians in the West African nation. The Nigerian government has rejected such characterisations, arguing they misrepresent the complex and multifaceted security challenges the country faces.
