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.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has revoked the contract for the construction of the Ekim–Odukpani section of the Calabar–Itu Highway due to the contractor’s inability to meet performance expectations.

The project, previously handled by Raycon Construction Company, failed to comply with the agreed terms, prompting the minister’s decisive action.

Umahi announced the termination during an inspection tour of the highway on Saturday.

He stated that the ministry would issue a stop-work order to Raycon and carry out a joint assessment of the work completed so far.

“This job was awarded as an intervention contract, taken over from Julius Berger due to the unreasonably high cost they proposed,” Umahi explained.

“We are disappointed with the contractor’s poor performance, which clearly shows a lack of capacity. This project is beyond their capability, so termination is necessary to bring in a competent firm.”

The minister assured that a new contractor, capable of completing the work to the required standard, would be engaged.

The Calabar–Itu Highway, part of the larger Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, has faced persistent delays and slow progress.

Minister Umahi had previously warned other contractors, including SEMATECH and RCC, about slow mobilization and performance issues.

Despite substantial government funding, some sections of the highway have shown minimal progress, raising concerns over potential delays and prompting consideration of further contract terminations.

A delegation from the United States Congress has arrived in Nigeria on a fact-finding mission amid growing concerns over insecurity and allegations of targeted attacks on Christians, issues that recently prompted former U.S President Donald Trump to re-designate Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.”

The visit follows earlier discussions held in Washington, D.C, where Nigerian officials and U.S. lawmakers met to address shared security priorities.

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, confirmed the development on Sunday via his verified Facebook page.

He noted that the engagement focused on strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism, promoting regional stability, and reinforcing strategic security ties between both nations.

Ribadu, who received the delegation on Sunday morning, expressed confidence that the ongoing dialogue would boost mutual trust and enhance joint efforts toward peace and security.

According to him, the visiting U.S lawmakers include Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart, Rep. Norma Torres, Rep. Scott Franklin, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, and Rep. Riley M. Moore.

The U.S Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills, was also present at the meeting, underscoring the significance placed on the bilateral engagement.

Ribadu emphasized that the talks reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to addressing terrorism and instability, adding that the cooperation would continue to evolve in the interest of regional peace.