By John Umeh
The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the nation’s security agencies following the successful rescue of 130 pupils abducted from a boarding school in Niger State, describing the development as a major relief for affected families and the country at large.
TUC President Festus Osifo gave the commendation on Sunday while speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, shortly after authorities confirmed that the final group of students held in captivity had been released.
Osifo, who also leads the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), expressed appreciation to security operatives for ending weeks of fear, uncertainty, and emotional trauma experienced by parents and guardians of the abducted children.
“First, I want to thank our security personnel for this breaking news. As parents, when your children go to school and don’t return home, the anxiety is unimaginable. I doubt many of those mothers and fathers have slept properly in the past month,” Osifo said.
He specifically acknowledged the coordinated efforts of security agencies involved in the rescue operation, noting that their intervention restored hope and brought immeasurable relief to the affected families.
“We commend the security architecture led by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Ministry of Defence for stepping in and bringing these children back safely,” he added.
While welcoming the release, the labour leader urged the Federal Government to strengthen preventive measures to curb future school abductions, warning that repeated attacks were undermining confidence in the education system and discouraging school attendance.
“We must put the right security architecture in place so that what happened in Chibok, Dapchi, Kebbi, and now Niger does not happen again,” Osifo said.
The remaining pupils and teachers abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State, regained their freedom on Sunday, bringing closure to the November 21 attack that shocked the nation.
Confirming the development, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, announced that all victims had been freed.
“Another 130 abducted Niger State pupils released. None left in captivity,” Dare wrote on X.
The abduction, which occurred around 2:00 a.m., sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of schools nationwide, prompting President Tinubu to order an intensified security operation across Niger State and neighbouring regions.
