Nigeria: Abducted Schoolchildren Reunite with Families as Over 150 Remain Captive. Lagos, Nigeria — City officials reported that a significant number of abducted schoolchildren from a Nigerian Catholic school have been released and reunited with their families.
The children, along with 12 teachers, were seized during an attack on St.
Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community on November 21.
According to regional officials, 303 students and teachers were taken hostage, with 50 children managing to escape in the aftermath of the attack. Over the weekend, another hundred children were freed, leaving at least 150 still captive, including the teachers.
The families of the freed children expressed immense relief. Luka Illaya, a parent, said “It has not been easy for me. But today, in fact, I have a little bit of joy, especially because there is still one abducted.
But I am now happy with this one that I have gotten. ” Most of the children who were released, aged between 10 and 17, arrived at their homes wearing football jerseys, robes, and slippers. They had been held in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, since their release was announced.
St. Mary’s School Principal Felicia Gyang thanked the security agencies involved in the rescue efforts. “We thank all the security agencies that helped in the rescuing of our children.
We are pleading that God should give them more strength to be able to rescue the remaining children,” she.
The government has not disclosed additional details surrounding the children’s release or whether a ransom was paid. No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, but locals suspect armed gangs that target schools and travelers for ransom in northern Nigeria.
The attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School follows a series of recent mass abductions in Nigeria. It occurred just four days after 25 schoolchildren were seized in Kebbi state, and around the same time a church in Kwara state was attacked, with 38 worshipers abducted.
All those individuals have since been freed. Under pressure from both domestic and international leaders, including United States President Donald Trump, who has alleged that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria’s security crisis, President Bola Tinubu has vowed to continue efforts until all hostages are freed. Further details are expected as the situation unfolds.
Source: Nigerian children reunite with their parents after release.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
