Nigerian officials have secured the release of 100 schoolchildren who were among hundreds abducted by gunmen from a private Catholic boarding school last month, according to United Nations and local media sources. The development offers a glimmer of hope amidst an ongoing national security crisis, though the fate of a further 165 students and staff members remains shrouded in uncertainty.
A Wave of Abductions Grips the Nation
The incident began in November, when armed attackers stormed St Mary’s co-educational boarding school in Niger state, located in north-central Nigeria. In a brazen assault reminiscent of the infamous 2014 Chibok abductions, the gunmen seized 315 pupils and staff members. While approximately 50 individuals managed to escape in the immediate aftermath, the kidnappers disappeared into the countryside with 265 hostages.
The recent release of 100 children was confirmed to the AFP news agency by presidential spokesman Sunday Dare. A UN source, speaking on Sunday, indicated that the freed children are due to be handed over to Niger state government officials on Monday. "They are going to be handed over to Niger state government tomorrow," the source stated.
Details Scarce Amidst Lingering Anguish
Local media reports corroborated the news of the release but provided no clarity on the circumstances. It is unclear whether the children's freedom was secured through negotiation, a ransom payment, or military intervention. Crucially, there is no information regarding the condition or whereabouts of the remaining 165 captives thought to still be in the hands of the kidnappers.
The news has been met with cautious relief by the school community. Daniel Atori, spokesman for Bishop Bulus Yohanna of the Kontagora diocese which runs St Mary's, said, "We have been praying and waiting for their return, if it is true then it is cheering news." He added, however, that the diocese had not yet received official notification from the federal government.
Kidnapping as a Lucrative Industry
This mass abduction is part of a devastating pattern in Nigeria, where kidnappings for ransom have become a common tactic for criminal gangs and armed groups seeking quick funds. A recent report by Lagos-based consultancy SBM Intelligence starkly frames the crisis, revealing that Nigeria's kidnap-for-ransom trade has "consolidated into a structured, profit-seeking industry". The report estimates the industry generated approximately $1.66 million (£1.24 million) between July 2024 and June 2025.
The country's security challenges are multifaceted. It contends with a long-running jihadist insurgency in the north-east, rampant violence from armed bandit gangs in the north-west, and persistent clashes between farmers and herders in the central regions over land and resources. The abduction of schoolchildren, a tactic that first drew global condemnation with Boko Haram's kidnapping of nearly 300 girls from Chibok a decade ago, continues to expose the grave vulnerabilities within Nigerian society.
While the return of 100 children from St Mary's school is a positive step, it underscores a grim reality: for the families of the 165 still missing, and for a nation grappling with systemic insecurity, the ordeal is far from over.
