Nigerians welcome 130 schoolchildren and teachers released after mass abduction

MINNA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerians on Monday got their first look at 130 children and teachers released after being seized in one of the largest mass abductions in the country's history.

Some of the children appeared to be malnourished or in shock as they arrived at a government ceremony. Police said they were freed Sunday, a month after gunmen stormed their Catholic school in Niger state’s Papiri community in a predawn attack.

Authorities said plans were underway to reunite the children with their families before Christmas.

Authorities earlier said 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were seized and 50 of them escaped in the hours that followed. But on Monday, Niger state Gov. Mohammed Bago indicated that 230 had been taken and all had now been released.

School kidnappings have come to define insecurity in Africa’s most populous country.

Officials did not say whether a ransom — common in such abductions — had been paid. No group has claimed responsibility, but residents blamed armed gangs that target schools and travelers in kidnappings for ransom across Nigeria’s conflict-battered north.

Most of those seized in the attack were aged between 10 and 17, the school said. One of the children released earlier told The Associated Press that gunmen threatened to shoot them during the attack.

Maj. Gen. Adamu Garba Laka, national coordinator at Nigeria’s Center for Counter Terrorism, told Monday's event that Nigeria will work with community leaders to boost safety in high-risk areas.

Freed students of St. Mary's Catholic School in the Papiri community upon their arrival at the government house, in Minna, Nigeria, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

A freed teacher of St. the Mary's Catholic School in the Papiri community upon arrival at the government house, in Minna, Nigeria, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Freed students of St. Mary's Catholic School in the Papiri community pose for photographs upon their arrival at the government house, in Minna, Nigeria, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Freed students of St. Mary's Catholic School in the Papiri community upon their arrival at the government house, in Minna, Nigeria, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

Freed students from St. Mary's Catholic School in the Papiri community arrive at the government house, in Minna, Nigeria, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Warriors forward Draymond Green had a heated exchange with coach Steve Kerr in the huddle during a third-quarter timeout Monday night and then went to the locker room on his own to cool down.

Kerr said even once Green returned to the bench for the finish of Golden State's 120-97 win against the Orlando Magic he wasn't going to play again after what happened.

“We got into it obviously and I took the timeout just because I thought we lost our focus there a little bit,” Kerr said. “We had it out a little bit and he made his decision to go back to the locker room to cool off and that’s all I’m going to say about it. Everything is private. I've got nothing further to add.”

Green contributed nine points and seven rebounds in nearly 18 minutes after being ejected early in the second quarter Saturday against Phoenix for consecutive technicals.

“Tempers spilled over and I just thought it was best that I get out of there,” Green said. “I don't think there was a situation where it was going to get better so it was just best to remove myself. That's it.”

Green said he was available to play again but it wasn't his decision — and he had stiffened up by then, too.

“I thought I owed it to my teammates to be there. I'm not going to quit on my teammates,” he said.

Golden State's 15-15 record is hardly what this group expected at this stage, and Green noted “that's probably why tempers are flaring.”

“Basketball, it's what we do,” he said of what caused the frustration. “We play basketball, it's an emotional game. People lose their emotions sometimes, it happens.”

He said of leaving for the locker room, “I just thought that was best for me” and afterward he felt a responsibility to speak with the media “for sure.” Assistant coach Anthony Vereen accompanied Green.

Stephen Curry said his observation was Kerr and Green “just having a good conversation."

"That's kind of for them to talk about, not me," the star guard said.

Curry said there were positive, winning vibes in the locker room after a nice win and “I'm pretty sure we know how to be professional.”

Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski said Green “was a great teammate on the bench” after coming back.

“It’ll get figured out,” Podziemski said.

Asked if he thinks the issue will linger, Kerr said: “No."

“The group's ready to go, you could see in the game tonight," he explained. "We need Draymond. He's a champion. We've been together for a long time. All we can do is the rest of the group keep pushing, keep getting better. I thought this was one of our better games. I thought the first half was brilliant — we just didn't make shots. I thought Draymond played great."

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Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, center, looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) is fouled by Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green yells at the referee during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)