Authorities in Nigeria say all hostages have now been released in what was one of largest mass kidnappings in the country's history.

Washington

More than 200 schoolchildren and staff who were abducted from St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria, have been released and reunited with their families. The kidnapping, which occurred on November 21, was one of the largest in Nigeria's history, with initial reports indicating 303 children and 12 staff were taken, later revised to 230.

The release coincided with US military strikes against ISIS forces in Nigeria, ordered by President Trump, who cited concerns over Christian persecution. Nigerian authorities, however, emphasized that the security collaboration with the US is focused on combating terrorism and insurgency, not exclusively religious issues. The incident underscores the ongoing problem of mass kidnappings and broader security challenges in Nigeria.

Hundreds of Nigerian schoolchildren taken captive have been released

President Trump ordered what he called powerful and deadly strikes against ISIS forces in Nigeria on Christmas Day. National correspondent Jagarothe Dave is in Washington DC with the latest. President Trump ordered what he called powerful and deadly strikes against ISIS forces in Nigeria on Christmas Day. National correspondent Jagarothe Dave is in Washington DC with the latest. Jagarothe, why did the US deliver this strike? And why now? Yeah, if you look at what Donald Trump is saying, the US president, on social media, he is saying that the US launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS terrorist scum, as he puts it, in northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing primarily innocent Christians at levels not seen for many years, even centuries. And he's threatened more action to come if the slaughter doesn't continue. Donald Trump has been talking a lot about the persecution of Christians abroad. It's a big talking point among the evangelical movement and right-wing groups and individuals here in the United States. And this is a narrative that's been amplified by the president. He threatened, a while back, military action in Nigeria. He designated Nigeria as a country of particular concern under the US International Religious Freedoms Act. And now he's taken action based on this claim that there is persecution of Christians happening in Nigeria. Nigerians are disputing this. And they're saying that this is not a religious issue and that their collaboration, coordination with the United States, was to tackle terrorism and to tackle insurgency, which is a problem in Nigeria. But they're saying this is not exclusively a religious issue. Interesting. And the strikes come as 130 schoolchildren and teachers kidnapped from school in the northern part of Nigeria. They've been reunited with their families ahead of Christmas. Can you tell us about that, please? Yeah, this was the last group that was still held captive following the attack on St. Mary's Catholic School on November the 21st in Papiri in Niger State. And as we've just been discussing, Nigeria has several security concerns, kidnappings are one of them. Authorities in Nigeria say all of the hostages have now been released in what was one of the country's biggest mass kidnappings in its entire history. A long wait that is finally over. Tears of joy, big embraces, smiles, and celebrations from relieved families grateful to have their children back safely. It's an ordeal no parent wants to go through. Authorities initially said 303 schoolchildren and 12 staff members were abducted, later changing that figure to 230. School kidnappings are a serious security concern for Nigeria, where conflict is rife in areas like Niger State. They're often committed by gangs looking for a ransom. Most of the children in the Papiri kidnapping were aged between 10 and 17. And their return, just in time for Christmas, is the best gift their families could have hoped for. Jagruti Dave, Scripps News, Washington. So very relieved families there, reunited after a lengthy separation. But just another indication of the variety of security problems that Nigeria has. Yes, this was a Catholic school, but these kidnappings are part of a broader complex problem of insurgency in Nigeria. Indeed, wildly complex. Jagruti Dave in Washington. Washington, DC. Thank you.

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