Nigeria has confirmed the release of 100 schoolchildren kidnapped at gunpoint from a Catholic school last month, marking another grim episode in the country’s long-running battle against armed groups targeting students. The development comes as France steps up diplomatic and security support, signalling renewed international backing for Abuja’s fight against mass abductions.
According to Nigerian authorities, the children taken in a coordinated attack by heavily armed militants, were freed following a series of negotiations led by security agencies. Officials did not immediately disclose whether a ransom was paid, but local sources say the operation combined intelligence-driven tracking with community-level mediation, a common approach in regions where armed groups exploit weak state presence.
The attack had sparked outrage across Nigeria and drawn condemnation from international partners, including France, which has now pledged deeper collaboration in counter-terrorism, security training, and humanitarian assistance. French officials said the country remains committed to supporting Nigeria in dismantling the networks responsible for school kidnappings, rural banditry, and terror-driven violence across the north.
Mass abductions of students, once a hallmark of Boko Haram, have increasingly been carried out by criminal gangs seeking ransom payments. Over the past decade, northern Nigeria has recorded hundreds of school-related kidnappings, disrupting education and accelerating the closure of vulnerable schools.
The release of the 100 children is a relief to affected families, but experts warn that without structural reforms, improved intelligence coordination, and stronger protection for schools, the cycle of violence will persist. With France’s renewed involvement, Nigeria now faces mounting pressure to translate international support into safer communities and lasting security gains.
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