In brief
Approximately 100 schoolchildren abducted from St Mary's Catholic School in Nigeria have been released, as confirmed by local authorities. The fate of the remaining abductees, and whether any ransom was paid, remains unclear amidst ongoing security concerns and a crisis of mass abductions in the region.
About 100 children who were abducted from a Catholic school in central Nigeria last month have been released, authorities say.
Niger state's police chief, Adamu Abdullahi Elleman, and Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who is in charge of the school as the local leader of the Catholic church, both told the BBC that they had received confirmation of the students' release.
They said the government's Office of the National Security Adviser had informed them that the children would be reunited with their parents from Monday.
More than 250 students and 12 staff were kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic school in Papiri, the latest in a wave of mass abductions which has sent shockwaves through the nation.
Details regarding the release remain unclear, including whether it was secured through negotiation or force, and whether any ransoms were paid. The governor of neighboring Nasarawa state, Abdullahi Sule, told local media that the federal government played a key role in securing their release, even though specific efforts are not disclosed for security reasons.
Last week, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited Papiri and met with a delegation led by Bishop Yohanna, assuring them the children would soon be rescued.
Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted in attacks in north and central Nigeria. The attack on St Mary's on November 21 was preceded by other incidents: on November 18, two were killed and 38 were abducted from another church, and the day before that, 25 Muslim students were kidnapped from a secondary school.
No one has claimed responsibility for these kidnappings, although analysts believe they are usually carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom. A recent government statement suggested the involvement of jihadist groups as well.
Despite a law prohibiting ransom payments in Nigeria, it's widely believed that money is still exchanged in many instances, creating a continuing cycle of violence and abduction in the region.
This situation gained international attention, particularly after recent comments by US President Donald Trump about the treatment of Christians in Nigeria, though Nigerian officials insist that the violence affects all communities regardless of faith.
