By BONIFACE AKARAH

Washington-based international human rights lawyer, Emmanuel Ogebe, has commended the Federal Government for the successful recovery of the remaining abducted St. Mary’s Catholic schoolchildren, describing it as “the best Christmas gift” to their families, while urging authorities to secure the release of Christian orphans allegedly held by Kano State since Christmas Day 2019.

Ogebe made the call in a statement sent to News Express via e-mail on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

“We wish to commend the government of Nigeria for successfully recovering the remaining abducted St Mary’s schoolchildren,” Ogebe said.

“This is the best Christmas gifts their families could have.”

He disclosed that members of his group were in Nigeria during the release of the first batch of the abducted pupils, noting that two siblings aged 12 and 14, who were known to them, were among those freed.

“Unfortunately they were injured and had to receive our assistance for medical attention,” he said.

Ogebe urged the government to provide sustained medical and psychological support for the rescued children, their teachers and families.

“We urge medical and mental health care for the children, teachers and families by the government,” he said.

While welcoming the outcome of the St. Mary’s abduction, the lawyer warned that Nigeria must decisively dismantle what he described as a thriving mass schoolchildren kidnapping industry.

“Similarly we urge the government to totally obliterate the mass school children kidnap industry,” Ogebe said.

He described Nigeria as “the mass kidnap capital of the world,” noting that although the St. Mary’s case was resolved within weeks — unlike the Chibok abduction — the country could not afford a return to prolonged cycles of impunity.

“Thankfully, this particular saga of St Mary’s unlike Chibok has ended within weeks and not a decade, but we cannot continue on this path,” he said.

Ogebe also praised the Federal Government’s recent decision to designate kidnappers and armed groups as terrorists.

“In this light, I commend the government for finally recognizing kidnappers of our kids, forest guerrillas and so-called ‘bandits’ as terrorists,” he said.

“Human rights advocates are not the enemy — gun-wielding, loud chanting monsters are!”

Turning to what he described as another unresolved injustice, Ogebe called on authorities to secure the release of Du Merci Christian orphans allegedly being held unlawfully by Kano State.

“Finally, we urge the government to free the remaining Du Merci orphans unlawfully held by Kano state,” he said.

Ogebe disclosed that he had attached a formal letter to the statement, which was served on the Attorney General of the Federation, requesting “the return of Christian orphans unlawfully held by Kano state before the sixth year anniversary of their unjust Christmas Day removal.”

“The government should not be acting like bandits,” Ogebe said.