130 Catholic school pupils kidnapped in November released: Presidency
About 130 schoolchildren and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, Niger, kidnapped by bandits on November 21 have been released after one month in captivity, said the Presidency.
Sunday Dare, presidential spokesperson, announced this in a post on X on Sunday.
“Another 130 abducted Niger state pupils released, none left in captivity,” Mr Dare said, posting a photo of the released pupils.
On November 21, 2025, armed bandits raided St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, abducting over 300 schoolchildren and their teachers.
Among the abducted schoolchildren, 50 first escaped two days after they were captured and were reunited with their families, while 100 were released after the government engaged the bandits on December 7.
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