In a rare moment of relief amid crisis, 50 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State, have successfully escaped captivity and reunited with their families, church and security officials confirmed on Sunday.
The escape was confirmed by Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Catholic Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State. He stated that the students fled between Friday and Saturday, but did not return to the school immediately after their escape. Authorities verified their return by visiting parents.
According to Yohanna, out of the 315 people initially reported kidnapped (303 students and 12 teachers), 253 pupils and students are still in captivity along with the 12 staff members.
The school has 430 pupils in its primary section, 377 of whom are boarders.
Beyond the 50 who escaped and 141 who were not abducted, other children (including three belonging to school staff) remain in the hands of the kidnappers.
Bishop Yohanna called for “calm and prayer” in his statement, urging all Nigerians to remain supportive as efforts continue. He also affirmed that CAN is working closely with security agencies, community leaders, and government authorities to secure the release of the remaining captives.
The abduction occurred in the early hours of Friday when gunmen attacked the Catholic school in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
A verification census carried out by CAN and the school revealed that 88 students, initially thought to have escaped, were actually recaptured shortly afterward.
NO group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
In response to the kidnapping, security forces, including tactical squads and local hunters, have been deployed to search for the missing children.
The Niger State government has ordered the shutdown of all schools in the state in the wake of the abduction.
Bishop Yohanna reiterated that, while there is relief for those 50 students who escaped, the ordeal is not over for many others. He asked Nigerians to “continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims.”
