Nuhu Ribadu, National Security Adviser, has handed over 100 pupils of St. Mary Catholic School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, who were abducted on November 21, to the state government.
The handover took place in Minna on Monday and was performed by Wing Commander Abdullahi Dare on behalf of the NSA.
Dare said the successful rescue followed weeks of intense, coordinated operations involving the Office of the NSA, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Armed Forces, and other security agencies.
According to him, the DSS played a “critical and physical role” in the operations that ensured the safe return of the pupils, adding that the achievement underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to securing all communities.
He added that the NSA’s office had begun immediate short-term protective measures in high-risk areas, while collaborating with state governments, traditional rulers, and religious institutions to develop long-term security frameworks.
Dare said the Federal Government would continue to implement policies aimed at restoring confidence in the education sector, reopening schools safely, and protecting every Nigerian child’s right to learn in a secure environment.
Responding, Governor Umaru Bago of Niger described the handover as a fundamental and defining moment in the state’s history.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the support that facilitated the rescue, and thanked the NSA, security agencies, development partners, and citizens who prayed throughout the ordeal.
Bago expressed optimism that the remaining abducted pupils still in captivity would also be rescued soon.
The governor assured parents and guardians that the freed children would undergo thorough medical examinations before being reunited with their families. He added that the state government was working with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to ensure their safe return home.
One of the rescued pupils, Florence Michael, recounted that the abductors kept them in a bush near a river.
She said the kidnappers gave them a trampoline to lie on and warned them against making noise.
“They told us if we make noise, they would beat us and we would not go back home,” she said.
Florence appealed to the government to continue protecting children and ensuring their safety in schools. (NAN)