50 Pupils Escape as 253 Remain in Captivity After Niger School Abduction
By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna
Fifty pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, have escaped and reunited with their families, offering a rare moment of relief in one of the country’s most shocking mass abductions in recent months.
The school was attacked a few days ago by suspected terrorists who whisked away 303 pupils, students, and staff.
According to latest updates from the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who also owns the school, the children escaped between Friday and Saturday and found their way home directly.
Despite the breakthrough, the scale of the tragedy remains immense. A total of 253 people, including 236 pupils, 14 secondary school students, three children of staff, and 12 teachers are still being held by the abductors.
The Bishop explained that the escapees were confirmed after school authorities reached out to parents in the affected communities.
He also clarified that out of the school’s 430 primary pupils, 377 are boarders, a factor believed to have contributed to the high number of abductees.
While describing the return of the 50 children as “a sigh of relief,” Yohanna urged Nigerians to remain calm and prayerful, assuring that the school, security agencies, community leaders, and government authorities are intensifying efforts for the safe rescue of all the remaining captives.
“We continue to trust God for the quick release of those abducted and His protection over our people,” he said.
The mass kidnapping has sparked nationwide concern as communities await further developments and hope for a swift resolution.
