The Federal Government has reportedly secured the release of 100 of the schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The rescue comes two weeks after armed bandits stormed the school and kidnapped 315 people, 303 pupils and 12 teachers.
With the latest development, 153 pupils and all 12 teachers are still being held by the abductors.
Details of the circumstances surrounding the release remain unclear as of press time.
The Guardian was also unable to independently verify whether any ransom was paid or if the children were freed unconditionally.
However, reliable sources confirmed that the rescued pupils are undergoing medical evaluation and will be reunited with their families once security debriefing is completed.
Efforts to reach the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, were unsuccessful.
She told reporters she was in a meeting and would respond later.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had earlier announced that 50 abducted pupils had escaped captivity and been reunited with their parents.
However, a BBC Pidgin report clarified that the 50 children were among those who fled during the initial chaos of the attack, not escapees from the kidnappers’ hideout.
Parents who spoke to the BBC said many of the kidnapped children were very young.
One woman recounted that her sister’s two children, aged six and 13, were still missing.
She added that villagers had alerted soldiers after spotting signs that the children were nearby, possibly due to the attackers’ vehicle breaking down.
The Agwara school attack came just days after a series of violent incidents across northern Nigeria, including the kidnapping of 25 students from a girls’ secondary school in Kebbi and the abduction of church worshippers in Kwara.
The week also saw the killing of senior army officer General Sani Uba, allegedly by ISWAP militants.
As security agencies continue efforts to free the remaining captives, concern remains high among parents and local residents, who fear for the safety of those still in the hands of the attackers.
