Nigeria secures release of 100 abducted school children, fate of 165 other unclear

Nigerian authorities have secured the release of around 100 school children who were abducted in a mass kidnapping last month.

The children along with staff members were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Niger state on November 21, will be formally handed over to state officials on Monday, December 8.

The development provides a measure of relief amid one of Nigeria’s worst security crises in years, though the fate of an estimated 165 students and staff members who remain in captivity is still unknown.

In the attack, gunmen seized 315 pupils and staff; about 50 managed to escape shortly afterward.

The release was confirmed by the Niger state’s police chief and Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna who leads the local Catholic community overseeing the school.

As reported by BBC, they received confirmation from the office of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

However, there have been widespread speculations surrounding the release’s including negotiation, military action, or a ransom payment as the actual reason remains undisclosed for security reasons.

The incident was the part of a devastating wave of mass kidnappings across Nigeria in November, targeting schools and places of worship.

Surrounding the threats, schools were notified to remain close, however, St. Mary’s Catholic boarding school remained open.

The crisis has drawn international concern notably from the U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently warned about the safety of Christians in Nigeria.

Contradicting this claim, Nigerian officials note that victims come from all faiths.