Fifty students who were abducted during a large-scale raid on a Catholic school in northern Nigeria have returned to their families after managing to escape from captivity, while more than 250 children and a dozen teachers remain unaccounted for following the attack.
According to CNN, the abduction occurred on Friday when armed bandits stormed St. Mary’s Private Catholic School in Niger State, located in Nigeria’s north-central region, and forcibly took away 303 children and 12 members of staff. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed on Sunday that 50 of the captured students succeeded in escaping and have since been reunited with their parents.
The students who broke free did so between Friday and Saturday and did not return to the school premises after their escape, instead making their way directly to their families. This was confirmed in a statement by Daniel Atori, spokesman for the Niger State chapter of CAN chairman Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna. Atori said the pupils who escaped were unable to go back to the institution, which remains in a state of distress following the incident.
Despite the escape of the 50 students, the situation remains critical. CAN stated that 253 children are still being held by the attackers. This figure includes 250 students from the school and three children of staff members. In addition, 12 teachers also remain in captivity, raising growing concern among parents, religious organisations and local authorities.
Images from the scene showed the school’s entrance signboard standing amid an atmosphere of anxiety, while personal belongings lay scattered outside a student dormitory, underscoring the suddenness and chaos of the raid. Families continue to search for information, hoping for safe returns and official updates about ongoing rescue efforts.
The incident prompted international concern, including an appeal from Pope Leo during his Sunday Angelus address. The Pope called on relevant authorities to take swift and decisive measures to ensure the release of both the students and the teachers. He expressed sorrow for the abducted children and their families, saying he felt deep pain for the young victims and those waiting anxiously for their return.
This attack is the latest in a prolonged wave of violence targeting civilians in northern Nigeria, where armed groups frequently carry out kidnappings for ransom. The abduction at St. Mary’s has triggered heightened fear across the region, leading several federal and state-run schools to temporarily suspend operations to prevent similar incidents.
The assault came during a week marked by multiple violent events across neighbouring states. In Kwara State, gunmen attacked a church service, resulting in the deaths of at least two people and the abduction of several worshippers, including the pastor. Meanwhile, in Kebbi State, armed men stormed a government-run girls’ boarding school and kidnapped 25 female students. During that incident, the school’s vice principal was shot and killed.
Nigeria continues to grapple with overlapping security challenges, including religious violence, ethnic conflicts and long-standing tensions between farming communities and herders over access to land and water. These pressures have further destabilised already vulnerable rural regions.
International attention has also focused on the situation. US President Donald Trump has previously spoken out strongly about violence against Christians in Nigeria, referencing what he described as a “mass slaughter” by Islamist insurgents, and has even suggested the possibility of military intervention. Analysts, however, have noted that victims of such attacks include both Christians and Muslims, highlighting the complex nature of the conflict.
In a related development, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met Nigeria’s National Security Advisor Mallam Nuhu Ribadu to discuss the deteriorating security situation. In a post on X, Hegseth said the United States was working closely with Nigeria to address the violence and protect vulnerable communities from extremist attacks.
As families continue to wait for news of the remaining abductees, the fate of the 253 children and 12 teachers still in captivity remains uncertain, intensifying pressure on Nigerian authorities to secure their safe release and prevent further attacks on educational institutions.
(with Inputs from Agencies)
