President Bola Tinubu on Monday commended the security agencies for their tireless efforts in securing the freedom of the 100 students of Papiri Catholic School in Niger State.

Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesman, in a statement, said the President, while expressing his joy over the safe return of the students, also charged the security agencies to ensure the swift release of the remaining 115 students and their teachers who are still held hostage.

Recall that the students returned on Sunday from the forest in Niger State where they had been held captive by their abductors since November 21.

Read also: FG secures release of 100 pupils abducted from Niger Catholic school

About 300 students and their tutors were abducted by the kidnappers, while 51 of them later escaped from the kidnappers’ nets.

President Tinubu, in the statement, assured the parents of the remaining children that both the Federal Government and the Niger State Government are working closely to reunite all the abducted students with their families.

“I have been briefed on the safe return of 100 students from the Catholic School in Niger State. I rejoice with Governor Umar Bago and commend our security agencies for their steadfast work in ensuring the safe return of the students to their families since the unfortunate incident on November 21.

“My directive to our security forces remains that all the students and other abducted Nigerians across the country must be rescued and brought back home safely. We must account for all the victims. The Federal Government will continue to work with Niger State and other states to secure our schools and make the learning environment safer and more conducive for our young ones.

“From now on, our security agencies, working with the governors, must prevent future kidnappings.

“Our children should no longer be sitting ducks for heartless terrorists intent on disrupting their education and subjecting them and their parents to unspeakable trauma,” President Tinubu said.