The governor of Niger State, Umar Bago, has confirmed that 11 children abducted during last week’s mass kidnapping from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri have been rescued, while urging Nigerians to remain calm as authorities intensify efforts to free the remaining victims.
In a broadcast interview with BBC, Governor Bago said the rescued students were found safe and are being reunited with their families, offering a moment of relief to distraught parents. According to him, the rescue effort shows early results in a security operation currently underway in the state.
Addressing broader concerns around religious tensions in the aftermath of the abduction, the governor dismissed widespread claims that the attack was part of a “Christian genocide.” He described such allegations as “an attempt to blackmail Nigeria,” emphasising that the kidnappers’ motives remain criminal rather than sectarian. “We must not allow ourselves to be driven by fear or false narratives,” Bago said, urging citizens to trust the ongoing security response and allow investigations to run their course.
While the confirmation of 11 rescues brings relief, more than 300 students and several teachers remain unaccounted for, underlining the scale of the tragedy and the daunting task before security agencies. Governor Bago reiterated that the state government, in collaboration with federal security forces, is deploying troops and surveillance resources across vulnerable forest and rural zones, and called on communities to assist by reporting any suspicious activity.
Parents of rescued and missing students have expressed cautious optimism, though many voiced worry over the fate of their children still in captivity. Some described the rescued pupils as “traumatized but alive,” while others appealed for swift and safe release of all abducted children.
Human rights organisations and civil society groups have renewed calls for robust protection of schools — especially boarding institutions — and stricter oversight of Nigeria’s security infrastructure.
