More Abducted Nigerian Children Released, Government Says

Government and Church Offer Different Accounts

A spokesperson for the Nigerian government announced that the remaining students from the Catholic school raid have now been freed, bringing the total number of released children to a higher count than previously reported.

Meanwhile, officials from the Diocese of St. Michael’s clarified that only a second batch of hostages had been liberated, emphasizing that the exact number of children still in captivity remains unknown.

The kidnappers first struck the school in April 2024, abducting more than thirty pupils. Security forces launched a series of rescue operations, leading to the release of several children in early June. The latest statements suggest that negotiations and military pressure are continuing, but both the government and the diocese stress that the situation is still fluid.

Humanitarian groups have called for the immediate safe return of all remaining children and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. The government has pledged to intensify its efforts, while the diocese urges families to remain hopeful and patient as the rescue mission proceeds.