Families in Nigeria were reunited with more than a hundred schoolchildren and teachers abducted in November.
The tearful reunions happened just in time for Christmas.
“This Christmas, since we are celebrating Christmas with our children, we are so glad. And this Christmas will be different from the others,” said Yusuf Timothy, whose daughter, Rejoice, was among those freed.
The hostages were abducted in November. Pic: AP
Loved ones of the kidnapped children had an emotional reunion. Pic: AP
Mr Timothy said his family had to put their life on hold since the attack.
“Sometimes, even though I’m asleep with my wife, if we wake up, we will start thinking. We will start crying. When are we going to see our child?” he said.
The group of children and teachers were the last to be freed after the 21 November attack on St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri.
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“I am happy, I am happy,” said Rita Marcus, who was reunited with her son, tears flowing down her face.
“This happiness, it is too much.”
The attack on the Papiri school was one of Nigeria’s biggest mass kidnappings. Pic: AP
The children’s loved ones checked them for injuries and lifted them high in the air as they celebrated the hostages coming home.
Most of the children were between 10 and 17, according to the school.
Nigerian authorities initially said 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers had been kidnapped but later revised the number to 230.
They say all of the hostages have now been released.
Although school kidnappings in Nigeria have become a major security issue, the November attack was one of the country’s biggest mass kidnappings in recent years.