00:00Barely one month after terrorists invaded the Christian school on November 21, 2025 and kidnapped over 230 school children at the St. Mary Catholic Church School in Papri Town in Niger State.
00:13The Nigeria government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tanubu has announced the complete release of all the abducted church school children by the terrorists.
00:23According to the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the terrorists released the kids based on intelligent-driven operations, but, some Nigerians who took to the comment sections of the presidential spokesperson on social media, said, the government should come out clean and tell the public the truth that it paid money as ransom to the terrorists to secure the freedom of the kids, stressing that, terrorists don't release kidnapped victims for free.
00:49Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson had said in a statement he issued and made available yesterday that, the remaining 130 school children abducted by terrorists at St. Mary's Catholic School in Papri, Niger State, on November 21, have now been released.
01:09They're expected to arrive in Minna on Monday and rejoin their parents for the Christmas celebration.
01:14100 were released earlier by the terrorists, taking the total of freed students to 230.
01:22The freedom of the school children followed a military intelligence-driven operation.
01:27Some social media users who are apparently Nigerians took to the comment sections of the presidential spokesperson post both on Facebook and ex-social media platforms and expressed themselves over the new developments, some of which are presented verbatim below.
01:42Rilwan Ibrahim said, released not rescued, kidnappers don't release captives for free, in all thank God for their lives.
01:52Femi Adeboye said, so what happened to their abductors, were they engaged in, the way they understand, or they were released after monetary negotiation.
02:02We thank God for dot the release of these children, at the same time, what happened to the abductors.
02:08Aking Bade Aganbiade said, military intelligence-driven operation, as how N.A., how many bandits did their arrest.
02:17Banki Alash said, a wheeler dealer government of no direction will never say the truth, only God knows how much ransom was paid from the hard-earned resources or borrowed funds of this country.
02:29No amount of propaganda or damage control, Nigerians becomes wiser every day with all your antics and they're ready for you come 2027.
02:39Rusko Oko said, sir, with all due respect, do the terrorists release them unconditionally or your government paid ransom?
02:46Joe K. Megamixer stated, the presidency celebrates a, military intelligence-driven operation, for the Papri release, yet says nothing about the fate of the abductors.
02:58In a functioning security system, the return of victims is only half the job.
03:04Without arrests or neutralized threats, this is not a rescue, it is a handover that comes at a cost that wasn't mentioned.
03:11The official account of the Papri release reads like a travel itinerary, not a security report.
03:18If this was indeed an intelligence-led operation, where are the suspects?
03:23Silence on the abductors' fate suggests a non-combative arrangement that leaves the kidnap industry intact.
03:30Mass kidnappings in Niger state have become a cycle of trauma and PR-managed returns.
03:35By failing to mention any neutralized threats or arrests in the Papri operation, the presidency inadvertently credits the, kindness, of terrorists for the freedom of our children.
03:47Aliyu Mohamed stated,
03:49Kudos to President Bola Ahmed Tanubu, PBAT, for his serious commitment to tackling security challenges.
03:57Lately, the government has been putting in real work to end kidnapping and banditry once and for all.
04:02Samuel Ozena stated,
04:05Such military intelligence.
04:07Transactions completed.
04:09Alert received.
04:10A government that negotiates with terrorists.
04:13Onuzum stated,
04:14I'm glad the remaining schoolchildren have been released and will soon be reunited with their families.
04:20But, Mr. Bayo, how many terrorists were arrested or killed during the operation to free these children?
04:27Or was it the usual method of paying ransom to these terrorists while pretending otherwise?
04:34Ben Samuel stated,
04:35What happened to the kidnappers?
04:37Frankly, we're far more interested in seeing how you deal ruthlessly with the terrorists than in the victims themselves
04:44because we all know you'll insist no ransom was paid, even as they were released, perhaps in exchange for,
04:51X-mas handshakes.
04:52You can't easily steal 50 cows and march them into the forests let alone abduct hundreds of human beings.
04:59How do you plan to face Nigerians next year and campaign for APC re-election,
05:05when that would only mean more kidnappings and deeper insecurity?
05:08This is a truly clueless administration.
05:12What Nigerians want is to see the forests littered with the bodies of neutralized kidnappers.
05:17Proof of overwhelming firepower but instead, you allow them to regroup and strike again,
05:22kidnapping even more victims every day.
05:25Chika Ohaji added that,
05:27Mr. Onanuga, don't you think it is just too much to ask children who have been in a terrorist den
05:33for close to two months to be smiling for the camera?
05:36While we are relieved these children who, are, from being normal kids have undergone severe trauma.
05:43Asking them to smile for the camera is adding salt to injury.
05:46They did not go on vacation, it wasn't Disney World.
05:50I think you people can do better.
05:53Terrorists are in competition with government for control of resources.
05:57That tells you a lot.
05:58Halita Smith added that.
06:00Check out the words used.
06:02How will release follow after a military intelligence operation
06:05and no abductors were either arrested or sent to their maker?
06:09Looks like we are getting good at hostile negotiations.
06:13Honorable Noohu Sada added that.
06:16We welcome the safe release of the remaining 130 schoolchildren in Papari.
06:21While we rejoice with their families,
06:23this tragic abduction underscores the urgent need for effective security reforms
06:28to ensure our children can learn without fear.
06:30Also, as we are connected, we bring in youthful news in the mobile digital world.
06:37I'll see you next time.
Comments