The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) announced on Sunday that the fifty students who were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Private Catholic School in Niger State, north-central Nigeria, have escaped from captivity and reunited with their families. The mass abduction occurred on Friday when armed gunmen raided the Catholic school in the remote community of Papiri, seizing 303 children along with 12 teachers.
According to Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of CAN in Niger State and the proprietor of St. Mary’s, the young survivors—aged between 10 and 18—managed to flee individually between Friday and Saturday. “The students managed to flee between Friday and Saturday and have been reunited with their families since they could not go back to the school after their escape,” stated Daniel Atori, spokesman for CAN in Niger State.
Yohanna added, “We were able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents.” Local farmers reportedly assisted some in their escape efforts, providing shelter and guidance.
Despite the successful escape of fifty students, tension remains high; approximately 253 children and 12 teachers are still being held by the kidnappers. Authorities have deployed tactical squads alongside local hunters to pursue the captors and facilitate further rescues. No group has yet claimed responsibility for this incident, but it reflects a growing trend of mass school attacks in the region, which has already compelled the government to close 47 schools due to rising security threats.
Officials lamented poor security compliance by the school, noting it had reopened without informing government authorities despite intelligence warnings about an increased risk of attacks. “Regrettably, St Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and the staff to avoidable risk,” the Niger State government said in a statement.
Parents, community members, and civil society groups anxiously await further updates on the fate of those still held hostage as security agencies intensify operations in and around the forests of Niger State.
