After weeks of fear and heartbreak, 100 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic boarding school in Niger State, Nigeria have been freed, bringing hope to families still waiting for missing loved ones.
Families in Nigeria’s Niger State finally breathed a sigh of relief as 100 kidnapped schoolchildren were released after weeks in captivity. The children were taken from their school during a late-night attack by armed men, an incident that shocked the nation and left hundreds of families living in fear.
The abduction happened in Papiri village when gunmen stormed a Catholic boarding school and took away hundreds of students and teachers. In the chaos, some children managed to escape and find their way back home, but many were left behind in the hands of the kidnappers.
Over the weekend, government sources confirmed that 100 of the kidnapped children were freed and brought to the capital, Abuja. From there, they are expected to be reunited with their families and handed over to state officials. For many parents, the news arrived like a miracle. “We can finally sleep after weeks of crying and praying,” said one mother, holding back tears.
The children are now undergoing medical checks and trauma care. Many of them returned exhausted, frightened and in need of emotional support after spending days in the forest under harsh conditions. Aid workers and counsellors have been asked to help them slowly recover from the terrifying experience.
However, the joy is incomplete. A large number of students and staff are still missing, and their families continue to wait in pain and uncertainty. Parents of the remaining children gather every day, praying for good news and urging the government to bring their loved ones back safely.
Officials have not shared details about how the children were released. It is unclear whether negotiations took place or whether security forces played a role. What is clear is that the incident has once again exposed serious safety gaps in schools across Nigeria.
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