Nigerians are seeing their first glimpse of 130 children and teachers who were released on Monday after being held captive in one of the country’s largest mass abductions. Some of those freed appeared malnourished or in shock upon arrival at a government ceremony.
Nigerian Schoolchildren and Teachers Released
Police reported the children and teachers were freed on Sunday, a month after gunmen attacked their Catholic school in the Papiri community of Niger state in a pre-dawn raid.
Authorities stated plans are in place to reunite the children with their families before Christmas.
Initially, authorities said 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were seized, with 50 escaping shortly after the attack. Niger state Governor Mohammed Bago indicated Monday that 230 had been taken and all have now been released.
School kidnappings have become a defining feature of insecurity in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.
Officials did not disclose whether a ransom was paid, which is common in such abductions. No group has claimed responsibility, though residents have blamed armed gangs known to target schools and travellers for ransom across Nigeria’s conflict-affected north.
Most of those abducted were between the ages of 10 and 17, according to the school.
One of the children released earlier recounted to reporters that the gunmen threatened to shoot them during the attack.
Major General Adamu Garba Laka, national coordinator at Nigeria’s Centre for Counter Terrorism, said at Monday’s event that Nigeria will collaborate with community leaders to enhance safety in high-risk areas.
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