Nigeria: 100 Kidnapped Students Freed After Two Weeks
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, 100 students kidnapped from a school in Nigeria have been freed after more than two weeks in captivity. The students were abducted on November 21 from St. Mary’s School in Papiri, Niger State, northern Nigeria.
Initially, over 300 students and school staff were seized. However, about 50 students escaped shortly after the abduction, leaving the others in captivity until their recent release.
Local media report that authorities secured the students’ freedom, and they have been transferred to Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. It remains unclear whether the release was achieved through force, a military operation, or negotiations with the kidnappers.
The fate of the remaining kidnapped students is currently unknown.
Nigeria faces challenges with numerous armed groups operating in remote areas, where the government and security forces have limited influence.
The situation is further complicated by smaller terrorist groups aligning with Boko Haram, expanding the reach of extremist activities in northern Nigeria.
Just days before the Papiri attack, 25 girls were also kidnapped in the neighboring Kebbi region. Analysts suggest armed gangs often target schools to pressure the government and demand ransom for the hostages’ release. No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks to date.
