On the night of November 21, gunmen entered the dormitories of St. Mary's Catholic School in Papiri and marched off into the night with 253 children and 12 staff members.
Some reportedly escaped shortly after the kidnapping; about 100 were released on Dec. 14, and the remaining 130 were freed Dec. 21-22. According to the Nigerian government and the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora, all of the children and staff have been reunited with their families.
"The great news is these kids and school staff members [were] home with their families on Christmas," comments Todd Nettleton of The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM). "That is a huge answer to prayer, and in many ways, you'd say a miracle."
Still, he recognizes that much about the kidnapping and release remains unknown.
"Was there a ransom paid? Was there not a ransom paid? Was it Boko Haram? Was it just sort of thugs and criminals who wanted to collect a ransom?" Nettleton lists.
For him, most curious is the "military-intelligence driven operation" that led to the rescue. That may have been Nigerian military, but as Christian communities in the west African country continue to face deadly attacks from militant groups, Nettleton remembers a warning from President Donald Trump.
"If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the U.S.A. will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria, and may very well go into that now disgraced country, 'guns-a-blazing,' to completely wipe out the Islamic Terrorists who are committing these horrible atrocities," the president posted on Truth Social last month, one day after he declared that Nigeria is a "country of particular concern."
"I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action," he continued. "If we attack, it will be fast, vicious, and sweet, just like the terrorist thugs attack our CHERISHED Christians! WARNING: THE NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT BETTER MOVE FAST!"
On Dec. 25, in coordination with Nigerian authorities, the U.S. military carried out airstrikes / missile strikes against ISIS-linked militants. Trump celebrated hitting "ISIS Terrorist Scum" responsible for killing Christians and warned of further action if the violence continued.
The timing and rhetoric have drawn attention and debate, but President Trump has framed the bombing as counter terrorism against extremist groups, not an attack on Nigeria as a nation.
