Nigeria School Kids Reunited for Christmas After Kidnapping

In a heartwarming Christmas reunion, 130 Nigerian schoolchildren and teachers have been released after being held for a month. The group, abducted on November 21 from St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri, Niger state, returned to their community late Wednesday night, just in time for the holidays. Their return marked the final batch freed from one of the country's largest mass abductions.

Mothers tearfully embraced their children, while jubilant villagers lifted the students high, examining them with relief. For families like Yusuf Timothy's, whose daughter Rejoice was among the freed, the reunion brings an unparalleled sense of joy. "This Christmas, since we are celebrating Christmas with our children, we are so glad," Timothy shared.

School kidnappings for ransom have become a critical security concern in Nigeria. Authorities initially reported 303 students and 12 teachers seized, later revising the total to 230, all of whom have now been released. The students, mostly between 10 and 17, faced threats during the abduction, making their safe return a profound cause for celebration.