Nuhu Ribadu 2.webp
The Digest:

The National Security Adviser has formally handed over the remaining 130 rescued students and teachers of St Mary's Catholic School to Niger State Governor Umar Bago, marking the successful conclusion of a month-long operation to free all 315 individuals kidnapped in November. The emotional ceremony in Minna confirmed the safe return of every victim, a milestone attributed to coordinated efforts under President Tinubu’s directive.

Key Points:
  • NSA Nuhu Ribadu has handed over the final 130 freed pupils and teachers to Niger State Governor Umar Bago.
  • All 315 abductees from the November 21 attack have now been rescued; 50 escaped early, and 100 were freed on December 7.
  • The rescue operation was directed by President Tinubu and executed by the DSS and the Nigerian Army’s 2 Division.
  • Ribadu described the operation as a “significant milestone” in national security efforts.
  • The handover was emotional, with several rescued children seen in tears at the Government House.
  • The NSA reaffirmed plans to implement immediate protective measures and community-based security strategies.
  • Journalists were prevented from interacting with the children during the ceremony.
This moment represents more than a security success; it is a fragile restoration of normalcy, where each returned child is a testament to a state’s capacity to reclaim its most vulnerable from the grip of terror, if only for now.

Sources: Daily Trust