Nigeria’s Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, has commended President Bola Tinubu, for his exceptional leadership in ensuring the release of all pupils, teachers, and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri community, Niger State.
They were kidnapped on November 21, 2025, in their boarding facility at Agwara Local Government Area in Borgu Emirate of Niger State, North Central Nigeria.
The Minister said “while about 50 of the pupils abducted earlier escaped from captivity, and a batch of 100 were released by the abductors on December 7, 2025, freedom for the remaining 130 only a few days ago, means that the harrowing weeks of anxiety, uncertainty, and grief have come to a happy end; as those released are now being reunited with their families.”
“This mass abduction incident has been a most touching experience with personal linkages that occasioned sleepless nights in joining with others in the quest for a positive outcome of the efforts to secure freedom for the kidnapped victims. Besides the fact that Papiri community is one of the Districts of Borgu Kingdom, our heritage, and several of the families and relatives impacted by the kidnapping saga looked to prominent citizens of Niger State for resolution.”
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He expressed enthusiasm over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s quiet but firm insistence on the deployment of assets to ensure freedom for the abductees and was equally thankful to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his ‘superb coordinating role’, and to the Niger state Governor Mohammed Umar Bago, for his “courage and tireless efforts in rallying the needed support that brought the kidnap saga to a most welcome close.”
He said many lessons abound in this latest incident of mass abduction, noting that the resolution is gratifying, because it signals yet again the determination of the President to ensure the security and safety of Nigerians wherever they may be.
The Minister added that as the freed abductees, their families, and relatives, recover steadily from the month-long ordeal, he would like to “wish them a truly Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.”