• 130 schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in Niger state have been released.
• The release follows coordinated military-intelligence operations, with 230 students now freed overall.
• The abduction has sparked outrage over Nigeria's worsening security situation.

Nigerian authorities have secured the release of 130 schoolchildren taken by gunmen from St. Mary's Catholic boarding school in Niger state. This announcement follows the earlier release of 100 students this month, bringing the total number of freed children to 230. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed this development, noting that the children are expected to reunite with their families in Minna before Christmas celebrations, indicating the government's commitment to ensuring no children remain in captivity, as quoted in South China Morning Post and Reuters.

The children were among over 300 individuals, including staff members, abducted on November 21, 2025, from the school's premises, and their release has been described as a "moment of triumph and relief" by the Nigerian government. Around 50 students had managed to escape shortly after the initial kidnapping, raising hopes for the others' eventual release, as reported by Al Jazeera and BBC.

The mass abduction has sparked global concern, revealing the ongoing security crisis in Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target educational institutions for ransom. The recent incidences of kidnappings have heightened fears and outrage among parents and communities, echoing past crises like the infamous Chibok abduction in 2014. A timeline of the incident indicates 50 students escaped immediately, while earlier government interventions managed to secure the release of 100 others, leaving uncertainties about the remaining individuals and the details surrounding the rescues, noted in Africanews and Reuters.