BREAKING: 100 abducted Niger Pupils regain freedom, uncertainty persists over remaining 165

Nigerian authorities have secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, according to a United Nations source and multiple local reports on Sunday.

The children, rescued after days in captivity, are expected to be formally handed over to officials of the Niger State Government on Monday.

Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare confirmed the development to AFP, marking the first major breakthrough since armed men stormed the remote community on November 21 and whisked away hundreds of pupils and teachers.

During the midnight assault, 315 people were abducted — 303 students and 12 teachers — in one of the largest school kidnappings recorded in Northern Nigeria in recent years.

Within the first 24 hours, at least 50 pupils managed to escape and were reunited with their families, leaving 265 victims still in the hands of their abductors.

While the successful release of 100 pupils has brought relief to anxious parents, concerns remain over the fate of the remaining 165 students and staff who are still unaccounted for.

Security agencies have intensified operations across the forests linking Niger, Kebbi, and Kwara states as efforts continue to secure the freedom of all the captives.

More details are expected as authorities provide further updates.