… vows to bring every last child home
By our correspondant, Minna
A wave of emotion swept through Niger State as Governor Umar Bago received 100 children of St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, who had endured days of trauma following their abduction on November 21, 2025.
The freed pupils were formally handed over by Wing Commander Abdullahi Idi Hong, representing the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. He revealed that from the moment the children were taken, security forces worked tirelessly, refusing to rest until they were brought back alive. He reaffirmed the federal government’s solemn duty to protect every Nigerian child, stressing that their safety remains non-negotiable.
Governor Bago, visibly moved, expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the NSA for their swift and decisive action. He described the occasion as one that would forever be etched in the state’s history – a day when hope triumphed over despair.
“This is a soul-shaking moment,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion as he looked at the frightened faces of the children. “Their ages, their innocence is heartbreaking. But today, we give thanks because they are home.”
Bago assured distraught families that the remaining abducted children would soon be rescued, pledging that the government would not rest until every child was safely reunited with their parents. He urged continuous prayers and insisted that such a tragedy must never again be allowed to scar the state.
Medical teams have already been directed to conduct thorough examinations to assess the physical and psychological condition of the rescued pupils. The governor added that Niger State is working closely with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), UNICEF, and other partners to ensure the safe recovery and reintegration of all abducted students.
