Nigerian authorities have announced the release of 130 students from a Catholic school in Niger State. The students were abducted in November, marking the latest incident in a series of mass kidnappings that have plagued the country for years. This follows the government’s success earlier this month in securing the release of approximately 100 other kidnap victims.
The exact number of those initially abducted had been a subject of debate due to the scattered nature of the villages from which they came and the difficulty in accessing those areas. Officials have confirmed that all the students are now free. However, a spokesperson for the Christian Association of Nigeria stated that final verification is still underway, as some children managed to escape during the initial attack and have returned to their remote villages.
The attack occurred in late November at a mixed boarding school in the town of Baberi, Niger State. Armed men stormed the school and abducted hundreds of students and staff, a scene reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl kidnapping by Boko Haram.
Nigeria’s Complex Security Crisis
Nigeria has been grappling with multifaceted security crises for years, ranging from the activities of armed groups in the northeast to banditry in the northwest, and the widespread phenomenon of kidnapping for ransom, which has evolved into a lucrative industry. Recent reports indicate that these operations generated approximately $1.66 million between July 2024 and June 2025. November alone witnessed a series of mass kidnappings targeting both Muslims and Christians.
This surge in abductions has placed the government under immense internal and external pressure. While authorities have announced the freedom of all the students, the details of the operation and the identity of the kidnappers remain unclear. The persistence of this phenomenon raises concerns about its entrenchment as a tool for political and economic leverage in a country grappling with security vulnerabilities and complex socio-economic challenges. The situation remains fluid, and DZWatch will continue to provide updates as they become available.
