In Nigeria, 130 hostages abducted from Catholic school released

Parents of abducted children at the meeting on November 28, 2025. Photo: Associated Press

On December 22, 2025, Nigerian authorities announced the release of 130 students and teachers from St. Mary's Catholic school, who were abducted on November 21, reports the Associated Press.

Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement that “the remaining batch of the abducted students” has now been released. When asked about the 35 unaccounted for schoolchildren and missing teachers, Abiodun told The Associated Press: "Further details will be communicated."

As earlier reported, on November 21, 2025, an armed group kidnapped 303 students and 12 teachers from the private St. Mary's Catholic school. 50 students escaped shortly after the abduction, and another 100 hostages were released by the authorities in early December.

Read also

Sand for construction of Yermak’s residence brought from cemetery, MP says

MP Yaroslav Zhelezniak said that sand illegally removed from a cemetery in Ukrainka was used in the construction of the elite Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.

Italian court recognizes family with three parents as legal

In Bari, the appellate court ordered authorities to register an adoption according to which a child is listed as having two "fathers" and one mother.

Archaeologists discover biblical Bethsaida on shore of Sea of Galilee

Researchers have discovered a first-century residential house beneath the apse of a Byzantine church and a mosaic inscription mentioning the Apostle Peter.

Israeli soldiers receive jail terms for mocking statue of the Virgin Mary

Those involved in the act of sacrilege in the village of Debel will spend several weeks behind bars for desecrating a statue of the Mother of God.

Serbian Church officially receives back land of 15th-century monastery

An agreement was signed in Belgrade transferring the territory of the ancient Vojlovica Monastery to the Banat Eparchy.

Pat Daniel comments on conflict between Phanar bishop and community in Turkey

The Bulgarian Primate believes that the hierarch of the Constantinople Patriarchate should not have forced the Bulgarian community in Edirne to serve in Greek.