Niger state schools to reopen from January 12 after mass abduction

Nigerian authorities have announced that schools in Niger state will begin reopening later this month, following their closure in November due to a mass abduction that prompted emergency security measures.

According to the state’s education ministry, public and private schools located “in safe and secure areas” will be allowed to resume classes from 12 January. The decision comes after security assessments and extensive consultations with law enforcement agencies.

The November kidnapping, which involved more than 250 students and staff from St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, western Nigeria, was one of the country’s largest abductions in recent memory. Authorities confirmed that all victims were rescued just before Christmas, though details of how their release was secured, including whether a ransom was paid, have not been disclosed.

Armed criminal gangs, locally known as bandits, have long carried out killings and kidnappings across Nigeria, with recent spikes reported in the western and central regions. Schools and places of worship have increasingly been targeted.

The government has classified these groups as terrorists, and while paying ransom is illegal, there are reports that the prohibition is often ignored.