About 100 pikin wey dem kidnap from one Catholic school for Nigeria last month dem hand over to state officials on Monday, one day after authorities make sure say dem don free dem.

The pikin — many of dem dey wear football jerseys and girls dey wear long gowns — dem carry dem enter Niger State Government House for white buses wey about twelve military vans and armoured vehicles dey escort.

Dozens out of the 315 students and staff na dem dem abduct from the school for Minna, wey dey north-central Niger State. Fifty manage escape soon after the raid.

The fate of 165 others still dey unclear but the state Governor Umar Bago talk, "I wan reassure parents and guardians say dem go return these children safe to dem, and e go happen very soon."

Medical checks

"We wan recover the remaining students wey still dey captivity, and by the grace of God for small time from now we go bring dem back," he talk as e dey address the students and officials.

The pikin go do medical checks before dem go reunite dem with their parents, the governor add.

Bago shake hand with some of the pikin and lead dem enter one hall where the state emir and local officials siddon to receive dem.

"Today na important day wey go help redefine the history of this state," the state governor talk.

Kidnappings for ransom

According to list of the released children wey AFP see, most of those wey dem free dey between 10 and 17 years. The school even get children as young as nursery age.

E no clear who seize the children from their boarding school for remote Papiri village or the exact circumstances wey surround the release of the 100.

Even though kidnappings for ransom dey common as way for criminals and armed groups to make quick money, the wave of mass abductions in November put serious spotlight on Nigeria security situation.

The news of their release break on Sunday as the Nigerian military intervene for neighbouring Benin, conducting counter-coup operations after one group of soldiers announce coup bid for the former French colony.

Terrorist threat

The country also dey face terrorist threat for the northeast, while armed "bandit" gangs dey do kidnappings and dey loot villages for the northwest.

In November, attackers across the country kidnap two dozen Muslim schoolgirls, 38 church worshippers, a bride and her bridesmaids, and farmers, women and children dem also take hostage.