BREAKING: 130 More Niger Students Freed, Ending a Month of Hostage Horror

The nightmare that gripped the nation for over a month has finally come to a triumphant end. In what many are calling a true Christmas miracle, the remaining 130 schoolchildren and staff abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, have regained their freedom. Government officials confirmed the late-night rescue on Sunday, signaling that the last of the captives have been pulled from the clutches of the armed bandits who seized them in a daring November raid. The atmosphere in Minna, the state capital, is electric with relief as families prepare for a reunion they once feared might never happen.

The successful operation was a high-stakes combination of military intelligence and intensive negotiations, ending one of the largest mass school abductions in recent years. This final release brings the total number of freed pupils to 230, following an earlier rescue of 100 students and the daring escape of 50 others shortly after the initial attack. Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare broke the news on social media with a powerful confirmation: “None left in captivity.” The image of smiling children, finally safe from the forest hideouts, has quickly gone viral, serving as a rare and much-needed beacon of hope.

For the parents of Papiri, this isn’t just a political win; it’s the answer to a thousand prayers. Information Minister Mohammed Idris described the rescue as a “fitting end to the year,” noting that the children will spend the Yuletide season in the warm embrace of their families rather than in the terrifying isolation of a bandit camp. While the scars of the ordeal will take time to heal, the nation is exhaling a collective sigh of relief. This victory reaffirms a resolve to protect the country’s most vulnerable, turning a season of sorrow into a moment of national triumph just in time for the holidays.