Nigerian authorities have secured the release of 100 kidnapped children taken from St Mary’s Catholic school in Niger state last month. These children will be handed back to local officials on Monday, a UN source told AFP on Sunday. The source said, “They are going to be handed over to Niger state government tomorrow.” Local media also confirmed the release but did not clarify if it was through talks or force. Earlier in November, armed gunmen snatched 315 students and staff from the school. Around 50 escaped soon after, leaving 265 still in captivity. The fate of 165 students and staff remains unknown. Presidential spokesperson Sunday Dare confirmed the freeing of 100 children. Daniel Atori, spokesperson for Bishop Bulus Yohanna of the Kontagora diocese which runs the school, said, “We have been praying and waiting for their return, if it is true then it is a cheering news.” He added, “However, we are not officially aware and have not been duly notified by the federal government.” Kidnappings for ransom are common in Nigeria, fueling crime and insecurity. Mass abductions have increased, highlighting the country's ongoing struggles. Nigeria battles jihadist insurgents in the northeast, bandit gangs in the northwest, and local conflicts elsewhere. One notorious case was the 2014 Boko Haram kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls in Chibok. Today, Nigeria’s kidnap-for-ransom scene has become a structured business, raising about $1.66 million from July 2024 to June 2025, according to Lagos-based SBM Intelligence.