In a profoundly emotional Christmas reunion, families in north-central Nigeria have been reunited with schoolchildren who were held captive for over a month following one of the country's largest mass abductions.
Emotional Scenes as Children Return Home
The 130 schoolchildren and their teachers were finally released on Sunday, with the last group arriving home to the Papiri community in Niger state late on Wednesday night. This marked the conclusion of a harrowing ordeal that began with the attack on St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri on 21 November.
Villagers and family members greeted the returning children with tears and overwhelming joy. Mothers clutched their sons and daughters tightly, while other children were lifted into the air, their faces radiant with relief and happiness. The community carefully examined each child to ensure they had not been physically harmed during their captivity.
Families Describe Agony and Elation
"This Christmas, since we are celebrating Christmas with our children, we are so glad. And this Christmas will be different from the others," said Yusuf Timothy, whose daughter, Rejoice, was among those freed. He described how his family's life had been completely paused since the abduction, stating, "Sometimes even though I’m asleep with my wife, if we wake up, we will start thinking. We will start crying. When are we going to see our child?"
The raw emotion was shared by Rita Marcus, who was reunited with her son. With tears streaming down her face, she simply repeated, "I am happy, I am happy. This happiness, it is too much."
A Deepening National Security Crisis
This incident highlights the severe and ongoing security crisis in Africa's most populous nation, where school kidnappings for ransom have become a frequent and devastating occurrence. Authorities initially reported that 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were seized in the Niger state attack but later revised the figure to 230, confirming that all had now been released. The method of their release was not disclosed.
According to the school, most of the abducted children were aged between 10 and 17 years old. One student, Onyeka Chieme, previously told The Associated Press that gunmen threatened to shoot them during the initial assault.
The joyful return of these children provides a moment of relief, but it underscores the persistent threat facing educational institutions across Nigeria and the urgent need for effective solutions to this rampant criminality.
