On Sunday 21 December, a spokesperson for the Nigerian president announced on social media: “Another 130 Abducted Niger State Pupils Released, None Left In Captivity” and posted a picture of some of the released schoolchildren. It had been reported that 153 children remained in captivity but the discrepancy in the figures has been explained by the fact that some children had escaped not long after having been abducted.
The release of the remaining hostages from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri in Niger State was soon confirmed and reported by the international media. On Monday 22 December, the schoolchildren and staff were brought to a ceremony at a government building in Minna, the state capital of Niger state. It was reported that some of the children appeared to be malnourished or in shock. Pictures showed some very young children (perhaps aged 3 or 4) meeting government officials.
As in the previous release of 100 of the hostages earlier in December, no details of the operation to free the children have been revealed and the Nigerian government did not say if any ransom had been paid nor who had abducted the schoolchildren.
Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, welcomed the releases saying, “I am deeply grateful to God for his providence and protection during this extremely difficult period. The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora rejoices in confirming the safe release of the second batch of children abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools – Papri. This development is a testimony to answered prayers and the power of faith in sustaining hope amidst fear and uncertainty.
“The release and well-being of the children were made possible through the decisive and coordinated efforts of the Government at both the Federal and state levels. The authorities took comprehensive measures to ensure their safe release, including psychological support, trauma examination, and medical care for all the children,” he said.
Sr Mary Barron (pictured), a native of Donegal and worldwide leader of the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles who established St Mary’s School, spoke on RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland, saying, “We’re absolutely delighted – we had the whole world praying with us. It was a moment of great joy. It has been a traumatic experience for the children being abducted and then kept in the forest in difficult conditions. There
will be a long road to recovery for them. It was a challenge for us to keep in contact with the parents as the boarding school has a large catchment and the parents come from fifty different villages.”
Background
Some 303 children and twelve staff members were abducted from St Mary’s Catholic Nursery, Primary, and Secondary School in Papiri in the Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State in Nigeria’s north central region In the early hours of Friday 21 November.
On Sunday 7 December, one hundred of the schoolchildren were released into the custody of Nigerian government forces. They were reunited with their parents in emotional scenes two days later.
(ABC, BBC, RTÉ, Vatican News)
Photo Credits: Representative image – Ladiwayne (Pexels), Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna (Catholic Diocese of Kontagora)
Sr Mary Barron (Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles)