· No word on Kogi Church goers
· Security fears deepen at Yuletide
· DHQ deploys special forces, air support against attacks
By Sarah NEGEDU & Godfrey AKON
Exactly one month to their abduction, the remaining students and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, regained their freedom on Sunday, December 21, 2025.
The victims were taken during an attack on the school on November 21 when armed men suspected to be Islamists laid siege to the school.
However, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication and spokesperson to President Bola Tinubu, Sunday Dare, confirmed that 130 pupils have regained their freedom.
“Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” he wrote briefly on X on Sunday.
While it brings Christmas cheer to distraught parents, and an embattled Papiri community, it is still doom and gloom in Aiyetoro Kiri in Kabba Bunu local government and Ejiba community all in Kogi state for church worshippers abducted from the First Evangelical Church Winning All, ECWA, Aiyetoro Kiri as well as those of Cherubim and Seraphim Church, Ejiba, who are likely to spend the Christmas in the abductors den.
Church abductions
The ECWA abduction took place on December 14 were 13 worshippers were kidnapped. Before then attackers had laid siege to the Cherubim and Seraphim in Ejiba and abducting the pastor, his wife, a visiting preacher and several church members on November 30.
Tinubu’s directive in limbo
Speaking on the return of the 100 students then, President Bola Tinubu remarked, “I have been briefed on the safe return of 100 students from the Catholic School in Niger State.
“I rejoice with Governor Umar Bago and commend our security agencies for their steadfast work in ensuring the safe return of the students to their families since the unfortunate incident on November 21.
“My directive to our security forces remains that all the students and other abducted Nigerians across the country must be rescued and brought back home safely.
“We must account for all the victims.”
A month after, President Tinubu’s assurance that “we must account for all the victims,” seems to be smokes and mirrors as distraught parents anguish over their loved ones.
Video of Kogi Church worshippers emerge
Weekend, a video emerged of some of the Kogi worshippers appealing for the government to secure their release.
Massive security deployments, fears persist
Though there have been massive security deployments across the country, Nigerians are still apprehensive of the security situation.
Early December, a United States–based humanitarian organisation, Equipping The Persecuted, had raised the alarm over what it described as an imminent plot by terrorists to carry out coordinated attacks on several northern Nigerian communities on Christmas Day.
But the Nigerian government dismissed the alert, questioning the motive of the group and warning that such reports could heighten fear and insecurity across the country.
Founder of Equipping the Persecuted, Judd Saul, during a roundtable meeting convened by the International Committee on Nigeria and the African Jewish Alliance in Washington DC, claimed that armed groups were regrouping for coordinated attacks across parts of the Middle Belt
The Defence Headquarters has said that measures have been put in place to prevent attacks during the Christmas festivities across the country.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Micheal Onoja, said the Armed Forces of Nigeria, in collaboration with other security agencies, have intensified operations in identified vulnerable areas.
According to him, additional troops have been deployed to strategic locations and routes, while special forces units and air support elements have been placed on high alert to enable rapid response.
“The DHQ wishes to inform the public that robust and proactive measures aimed at preventing any attacks during the Christmas festivities have been emplaced.
“The AFN, working closely with other security agencies, have intensified operations across identified vulnerable areas. Additional troops have been deployed to strategic locations and routes while special forces units and air support elements have been placed on high alert to ensure rapid response capability,” the statement partly read.
He also said surveillance activities, including aerial monitoring and intelligence gathering, have been heightened to track the movement and communication of suspected criminal groups.
