NSA receives 130 abducted St Mary’s Catholic school pupils in Abuja

All the schoolchildren abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri community, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have been released, following the rescue of the final group of 130 victims, bringing the total number freed to 230.

Officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) confirmed the development to journalists on Sunday.

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The release ends days of anguish for the families of the victims and marks a major breakthrough for the security agencies involved in the rescue operation.

The pupils were kidnapped after gunmen attacked the boarding school, sparking nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of schools across the country.

Authorities said the successful rescue resulted from sustained security pressure and coordinated efforts, amid growing calls for stronger protection of educational institutions and decisive action to prevent a recurrence of such attacks.

Details later.