Nigeria says 130 kidnapped Catholic schoolchildren freed

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 75% complete by By News AgenciesDecember 21, 2025 at 10:32 PM

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Nigerian authorities announced the release of 130 kidnapped schoolchildren on December 21, 2025, completing the rescue of students abducted from St. Mary's co-educational boarding school in Niger State in late November. The kidnapping, carried out by gunmen, initially left 315 students and staff unaccounted for, though about 50 escaped immediately. The government secured the release of approximately 100 individuals earlier in December. The exact number of those abducted was unclear due to escapes and the remote locations of the children's homes. Nigeria has been experiencing a surge in mass abductions amid broader security challenges involving armed groups and "bandit" gangs.

Keywords

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kidnapping schoolchildren nigeria mass abduction catholic school security concerns st mary's boko haram armed groups release

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