Fifty pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, have escaped from their captors and reunited with their families, school authorities confirmed on Sunday.
The escape, which occurred between Friday and Saturday, offers a glimmer of hope in a crisis that has gripped the nation since gunmen invaded the school earlier this week and abducted hundreds of students and staff.
According to school officials, the escaped pupils did not return directly to the school premises but made their way home independently or were found within nearby communities. The school verified their safe return by contacting and visiting parents.
Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Chairman of the Niger State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, confirmed the development in an update signed by his media aide, Daniel Atori.
While welcoming the news, Bishop Yohanna emphasized that the crisis remains far from resolved, with 253 persons still in the hands of terrorists.
“As much as we receive the return of these 50 children that escaped with some sigh of relief, I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims,” the bishop stated.
Providing a detailed breakdown of those still missing, Yohanna said: “For the records, we now have 251 primary pupils, 14 secondary students and 12 teachers still with their abductors.”
He explained the school’s total population, noting that of the 430 primary school pupils enrolled, 377 are boarders while 53 are day students. “Currently, aside the 50 pupils that escaped and have returned home, we have 141 pupils who were not carried away. As it stands now, we have 236 pupils, another 3 children who belong to our staff, 14 secondary students making a total 253 children including 12 members of staff with the abductors,” the bishop clarified.
The Catholic leader called for calm and continued prayers as rescue efforts intensify. “I want to call on everyone to remain calm and prayerful as we will continue to actively collaborate with security operatives, community leaders, government and relevant authorities for the safe and quick return of all abductees,” he said.
Bishop Yohanna concluded with a prayer: “May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect his people from all dangers.”
The mass abduction from St. Mary’s School has sparked nationwide outrage and intensified calls for stronger security measures around educational institutions across Nigeria. The incident is among several recent school kidnappings that have plagued northern states, prompting President Bola Tinubu to cancel international trips to coordinate security responses.
Security agencies have launched search-and-rescue operations to locate and free the remaining 253 victims still held by the terrorists.
