PHOTOS: Ribadu hands over remaining 130 freed Niger state schoolchildren, teachers to Bago

Nuhu Ribadu, the national security adviser (NSA), has handed over the remaining 130 students and teachers of St Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger, who regained their freedom on Friday, to Umar Bago, governor of the state.

The schoolchildren were reportedly freed on Friday between the Agwara and Borgu LGAs of the state.

On November 21, gunmen attacked the school on motorbikes and took away 315 persons, including 303 students and 12 teachers, in the operation that lasted three hours.

However, 50 pupils escaped within the first 24 hours, leaving 265 abductees, including all 12 teachers, remaining in captivity.

On December 7, the federal government secured the release of 100 students.

Speaking on Monday at a brief ceremony at the government house in Minna, Ribadu, represented by Adamu Laka, coordinator of the Centre for Counter Terrorism (CCT), Abuja, said the rescue mission coordinated by the office of the NSA succeeded through the combined efforts of security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, the police, and the Department of State Service (DSS).

“The rescue of the remaining kidnapped students and teachers followed the directive of President Bola Ahmed Bola Tinubu and was coordinated by the office of the NSA,” he said.

He also reiterated the commitment of the federal government to protecting the lives and property of citizens by coming up with reforms to tackle the situation.

“The federal government will implement short-time measures in high-risk areas by involving community leaders to provide safety for all,” he said.

“We will also reopen all schools that have been closed due to insecurity to ensure our children continue with their education.

“On behalf of the national security adviser, I hand over the remaining 130 students and teachers at St Mary’s Catholic School to you (Governor).”

The governor thanked Tinubu, the office of the NSA and other security agencies for ensuring the safe return of all the kidnapped students and teachers.

“We thank God for the mercies shown to us. Looking at them, you see the torment they have gone through, and looking at their number is also very scary. We are happy they will be reunited with their families,” Bago said.

He praised the return of the students and their teachers, saying it is “unprecedented to get everyone back like this in the country”.