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Officials in Nigeria have obtained the freedom of one hundred abducted schoolchildren captured by attackers from a Catholic school the previous month, as stated by a United Nations official and regional news outlets on Sunday. However, the fate of another 165 hostages presumed to continue being held captive was unclear.

The Incident

Last month, three hundred and fifteen students and staff were taken from St Mary’s mixed boarding school in central Niger state, as the country was gripped by a surge of large-scale kidnappings reminiscent of the infamous 2014 jihadist group kidnapping of schoolgirls in a town in north-east Nigeria.

Some fifty got away in the immediate aftermath, resulting in 265 believed to be in captivity.

The Release

The 100 youngsters are set to be handed over to local government officials this Monday, according to the source.

“They are going to be released to the government on Monday,” the official informed a news agency.

Regional reports also reported that the release of 100 children had been achieved, without offering details on whether it was the result of negotiation or a security operation, or about the whereabouts of the still-missing individuals.

The freeing of the students was announced to the press by an official representative an official.

Response

“We have been hoping and praying for their release, if it is true then it is a cheering news,” said a spokesman, spokesman for Bishop Bulus Yohanna of the Kontagora diocese which manages the school.

“Nevertheless, we are without official confirmation and have not received proper notification by the federal government.”

Security Situation

Although abductions for money are prevalent in the country as a means for criminals and armed groups to fund their activities, in a wave of mass abductions in November, scores of individuals were taken, casting an harsh spotlight on Nigeria’s already grim security situation.

The nation faces a protracted Islamist militant uprising in the north-east, while criminal groups carry out kidnappings and plunder communities in the north-west, and disputes between farmers and herders regarding dwindling resources continue in the country’s centre.

Furthermore, militant factions connected to secessionist agendas also are active in the country’s unsettled southeastern region.

Historical Precedent

One of the first mass kidnappings that attracted worldwide outrage was in 2014, when almost 300 female students were snatched from their boarding school in the north-eastern town of Chibok by Boko Haram jihadists.

Now, the country's kidnap-for-ransom problem has “evolved into a structured, profit-seeking business” that collected approximately $1.66 million dollars (£1.24m) between a recent twelve-month period, as per a analysis by a Nigerian consultancy.