Nigerian authorities announced Sunday the release of 130 abducted schoolchildren and staff from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Niger State, declaring that “not a single pupil is left in captivity.”
The announcement capped a month-long ordeal after armed gunmen stormed the school on Nov. 21, abducting more than 250 children and staff. Families celebrated tearful reunions, but conflicting accounts have cast a shadow over the government’s victory narrative. Officials insist all captives are free, yet the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora claims 315 were abducted, warning that many remain unaccounted for. The discrepancy has ignited public anger, with critics accusing the government of rushing to declare success amid mounting pressure over its handling of Nigeria’s worsening security crisis.
Authorities have not disclosed how the release was secured. Rumors swirl about ransom payments or back-channel negotiations with bandit groups. Analysts warn that secrecy risks emboldening criminal networks. “If ransom was paid, then this is not a victory, it’s a business transaction,” said Dr. Ibrahim Musa, a security scholar at Ahmadu Bello University.
The abduction recalls the 2014 kidnapping of more than 270 Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram, many of whom remain missing. Despite promises of reform, Nigeria continues to witness mass kidnappings, often in rural areas where security forces are scarce.
President Bola Tinubu’s office said, “This government will never tolerate attacks on our children. Every Nigerian child deserves safety in school.” The governor of Niger State added, “We are grateful for their safe return, but this tragedy exposes the urgent need for stronger rural security.” Human Rights Watch warned that without transparency, Nigeria risks normalizing ransom-driven violence, adding, “The world is watching.”
On social media, Nigerians voiced both relief and fury. “Thank God our children are home. But how many more schools must be attacked before action is taken?” wrote one mother on X. Another user asked, “Government says 130 freed, church says 165 missing. Who do we believe?” Others drew comparisons to past failures, posting, “This is Chibok all over again. Different year, same failures.”
Security experts argue the government’s narrative is more about optics than accountability. “This is a political victory speech, not a security breakthrough,” said Lagos-based analyst Funmi Adeoye. Education advocates warn the crisis is eroding trust in Nigeria’s schools. “Parents are weighing education against survival. That is a national tragedy,” said Professor Chika Okafor of the University of Ibadan.
Nigeria’s kidnap crisis has become a national trauma. Schools, once safe havens, are now targets. Parents weigh education against survival. And each release celebrated though it may be, raises the same haunting question: how long before the next abduction?
