In a heartening turn of events, the Nigerian government successfully rescued 137 abducted school children from a school in northern Nigeria, bringing an end to their harrowing ordeal. The rescue operation, conducted by the Kaduna state governor's office, culminated in the safe return of the children on Sunday.

The abduction, which occurred earlier this month in the town of Kuriga in northwestern Kaduna state, sent shockwaves across the nation. According to reports from Reuters, a total of 137 students, comprising 76 females and 61 males, were kidnapped on March 7. Initially, it was believed that 287 students had been taken, but subsequent updates from military sources clarified the number.

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The rescue operation, which involved a collaborative effort between the military, local authorities, and government agencies, concluded successfully in the early hours of March 24. The abducted children, who had been hidden in the forest for over two weeks, were safely retrieved following the payment of a ransom.

Reports indicate that the Nigerian government paid a ransom of one billion naira (approximately seven hundred and sixty-seven thousand dollars) for the release of the students. The kidnappers, who had demanded the ransom, released the children shortly before the deadline.

This incident marks the first large-scale abduction of students in Nigeria since 2021 when over 150 students were kidnapped from a secondary school in Kaduna State. The successful rescue operation underscores the government's commitment to ensuring the safety and security of its citizens, particularly vulnerable school children, in the face of such criminal activities.