"A final group of 130 kidnapped Nigerian schoolchildren freed by the government on Sunday are expected to be reunited with their families in the central Niger state on Monday, ending a month-long ordeal that drew global concern. Last month, unknown gunmen took an estimated 215 schoolchildren and 12 teachers from St Mary's Catholic school, Papiri community in Niger state, which runs west from the capital, Abuja, to neighbouring Benin. Fifty children escaped not long after, and another 100 were released on 7 December."
"The most high-profile mass abduction remains the infamous 2014 kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls from the town of Chibok in north-east Nigeria, which spurred a global campaign supported by dozens of celebrities including Michelle Obama and Elton John. According to the Lagos-based geopolitical advisory SBM Intelligence, there were at least 4,722 victims of kidnappings across Nigeria between July 2024 and June 2025, with at least 762 people killed and about $1.66m paid as ransom in total."
A final group of 130 kidnapped pupils were freed by the government and are expected to reunite with their families in central Niger state. Unknown gunmen had abducted an estimated 215 schoolchildren and 12 teachers from St Mary's Catholic school in the Papiri community; fifty children escaped soon after and 100 were released on 7 December. The last group were reportedly released near Nigeria's border with Benin, with no explanation of how freedom was achieved or which group was responsible. Kidnap-for-ransom gangs and jihadist networks contribute to widespread rural vulnerability, and under-equipped security agencies remain stretched. Nationwide kidnappings numbered at least 4,722 victims between July 2024 and June 2025. At least 762 people were killed and about $1.66m paid in ransom during that period.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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