Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), has handed over the remaining 130 freed students and teachers of St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, to Umar Bago.
The handover took place on Monday at the Government House in Minna. The schoolchildren and teachers reportedly regained their freedom on Friday between Agwara and Borgu local government areas of Niger State.
Gunmen had attacked the school on November 21, storming the premises on motorcycles and abducting 315 persons — 303 students and 12 teachers, in an operation that lasted about three hours. While 50 pupils escaped within the first 24 hours, 265 abductees, including all 12 teachers, remained in captivity.
On December 7, the Federal Government secured the release of 100 students, leaving the final batch of 130 students and teachers, who were freed last Friday.
Speaking at the brief ceremony, Ribadu, who was represented by Adamu Laka, Coordinator of the Centre for Counter Terrorism (CCT), Abuja, said the rescue operation was carried out through the combined efforts of multiple security agencies.
“The rescue of the remaining kidnapped students and teachers followed the directive of President Bola Tinubu and was coordinated by the office of the NSA,” he said.
He added that the operation succeeded through collaboration among the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, Laka said new reforms would be implemented to tackle insecurity, especially in high-risk areas.
“The federal government will implement short-term measures in high-risk areas by involving community leaders to provide safety for all,” he said.
“We will also reopen all schools that were closed due to insecurity to ensure that our children continue their education.”
He formally handed over the rescued students and teachers to the Niger State Government on behalf of the NSA.
Governor Bago expressed gratitude to President Tinubu, the office of the NSA, and the security agencies for ensuring the safe return of all the abducted students and teachers.
“We thank God for the mercies shown to us. Looking at them, you can see the torment they have gone through, and their number is also very scary. We are grateful that they will now be reunited with their families,” Bago said.
He described the successful rescue as unprecedented, noting that it was rare to have all abducted persons returned safely in such incidents across the country.