ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Some 130 schoolchildren and staff abducted from a Nigerian Catholic school last month by gunmen have been released, police said Sunday.
Gunmen seized at least 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers in Nigeria’s north-central Niger state when they attacked St. Mary’s Catholic School in the Papiri community on Nov. 21.
Fifty escaped in the hours that followed and 100 schoolchildren were freed earlier this month.
Niger State police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun said in a statement that “the remaining batch of the abducted students" has now been released.
“A total number of 130 victims including the staff have been released,” Abiodun said.
When asked about the 35 unaccounted for schoolchildren and missing teachers, Abiodun told The Associated Press: “Further details will be communicated.”
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said in a post on X that the “remaining 130 schoolchildren abducted” have been released.
He said the released schoolchildren would arrive in Minna, the Niger state capital, on Monday and rejoin their parents for Christmas.
“The freedom of the schoolchildren followed a military intelligence driven operation,” Onanuga said.
Sunday Dare, another spokesperson for Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu also said 130 schoolchildren were released and that none are left in captivity, in a post on X.
No group has claimed responsibility for the Nov. 21 abduction, but locals blamed armed gangs that target schools and travelers in kidnappings for ransoms across Nigeria’s conflict-battered north.
The Niger state attack was among a spate of recent mass abductions in Nigeria, and happened four days after 25 schoolchildren were seized in similar circumstances in neighboring Kebbi state’s Maga town. A church in southern Kwara state was also attacked around the same time and the 38 worshippers abducted in that attack last month were freed.
Bola Tinubu had been under pressure at home and from U.S. President Donald Trump, who has alleged that Christians are being targeted in Nigeria’s security crisis.
Nigerian authorities usually do not say much about rescue efforts and arrests in such cases are rare. Analysts believe that’s because ransoms are usually paid. Officials do not admit payment of ransoms.
FILE - Freed students of St. Mary's Catholic School are reunited with their parents in Papiri community, Nigeria, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Afolabi Sotunde, File)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — X-rays were negative on J.J. McCarthy’s injured right hand, coach Kevin O’Connell said after the Minnesota Vikings quarterback left the team’s victory over the New York Giants on Sunday and did not return.
It was not immediately clear if McCarthy will be able to play in either of the final two games of the season, even if the hand is not broken.
“Obviously the hand, there’s a lot going on there, so I don’t want to speculate one way or the other,” O'Connell said after a 16-13 victory. “Just crossing our fingers that we’ll have him back out there.”
O’Connell said McCarthy injured the hand at some point in the first half before running for a touchdown. McCarthy's final play came with 24 seconds remaining in the first half: a strip sack by Brian Burns, with Tyler Nubin recovering the fumble and returning it 27 yards into the end zone.
“I’m not sure he was even able to grip the ball, but I don’t know if he knew or not at that point,” O'Connell said. “I don’t know at what point the injury actually happened, and I don’t even know if he does.”
Rookie backup Max Brosmer replaced McCarthy and was 7 of 9 for 52 yards, many of them on the drive that led to the winning field goal.
“We always have confidence in Max to go in there and do what we expect him to do,” receiver Justin Jefferson said. “Of course, surrounding himself with the weapons that we have on our offense to go and lead us to where we need to go. It’s tough. It’s part of the game. But it’s all about next man up and finishing the job.”
McCarthy missed a game late last month while in concussion protocol and has also been sidelined by a sprained right ankle after his entire rookie year was wiped out by a torn meniscus in his right knee. This is yet another injury setback that could harm his development path.
“It is unfortunate,” O'Connell said. “He’s looked like he’s really found a place of decisiveness, ownership of the offense. ... It’s a bummer just because I’m having a blast coaching him, and I’m seeing the growth of a young player getting the opportunity to actually go out there and grow and develop.”
McCarthy was 9 of 14 for 108 yards passing and had a would-be pick-6 wiped out by a penalty before getting hurt in a game that has no playoff implications.
“He was in a rhythm of great decision-making early on,” O'Connell said. “I thought J.J. was doing a lot of good things and really, really unfortunate that he was not able to finish the football game. He was, my opinion, putting together a very nice performance again.”
While the Vikings at 7-8 are eliminated from playoff contention, they’d like McCarthy to get some more valuable experience in his first year playing in the NFL.
“You’d love to have him,” O'Connell said. “You’d love to have him for two straight home games to finish, and we’ll see where his hand’s at and if he has the ability to play for us again. I sure hope so.”
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) leaves the game near the end of the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) hands off the ball to running back Aaron Jones (33) during the first quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) passes against the New York Giants during the first quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) reacts during the second quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
