NIGERIA: More than 100 kidnapped, Nigerian students saved

The Nigerian government has secured the release of 100 schoolchildren who were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Niger State, two weeks after one of the country’s largest mass kidnappings. On 21 November, gunmen invaded the school in the dead of night and bundled away 303 students and 12 teachers — triggering widespread fear and outrage. In the chaos that followed, about 50 pupils managed to flee back to safety on their own.

The government responded with a major rescue effort, combining aerial surveillance, military maneuvers, and community-hunter patrols across forested areas. The announcement of the children’s release offers welcome relief to families and the country at large — though the operation details remain largely undisclosed.

Still, hundreds of students and all 12 teachers remain unaccounted for, underscoring the broader security crisis in parts of northern Nigeria, and adding to the already uneasy situation of Christians in the country. The incident is a striking reminder of the urgent need to reinforce protection, especially for Christian schools and vulnerable communities, as violence and kidnappings continue to disrupt education and everyday life. We are reminded once again that the horror of Chibok is not something left in Nigeria’s past.