130 Nigerian schoolchildren freed after mass abduction

In Niger state, Nigeria, the final group of 130 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary's Catholic School last month were freed on December 22, 2025. The students were part of a larger group of over 300 pupils kidnapped in a mass abduction. The incident drew international concern and highlighted the escalating insecurity and the increasing trend of ransom attacks targeting schools in the region. The release marks the end of this particular kidnapping crisis, but underscores the ongoing challenges of security in Nigeria.