In a dramatic development that has brought both relief and continued anxiety to Niger State, fifty children abducted from St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri have managed to escape their captors. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed this positive development after conducting thorough verification exercises.
Escape Brings Hope Amid Crisis
The mass kidnapping occurred on Friday, November 21, 2025, when armed gunmen stormed the educational institution located in Agwarra local government area. Initial reports suggested 227 victims were taken, but subsequent verification by CAN revealed the actual number of abducted individuals reached 315 victims.
According to Daniel Atori, media aide to the Niger State CAN Chairman Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, the fifty pupils successfully escaped between Friday and Saturday. All escaped children have since reunited with their parents rather than returning to the school facility for security reasons.
Detailed Breakdown of Victims
The Christian Association provided comprehensive details about the current situation. Beyond the fifty children who escaped, CAN confirmed that 141 pupils were not taken during the initial attack. The organization broke down the school's population to clarify the scale of the tragedy.
Out of the primary section's total enrollment of 430 pupils, 377 were boarders while 53 were day students. The current confirmed missing persons include:
- 236 primary school pupils
- 3 children of school staff members
- 14 secondary school students
- 12 members of staff
This brings the total number of individuals still held by kidnappers to 253 children and 12 staff members.
Church Leadership Calls for Prayer and Calm
Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, who serves as both the Niger State CAN Chairman and Proprietor of the affected schools as the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, issued a statement calling for continued prayer and cooperation with authorities.
"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," Bishop Yohanna stated.
The religious leader emphasized ongoing collaboration with security operatives, community leaders, government agencies, and relevant authorities to secure the safe and quick return of all abductees. He specifically asked community members to remain calm and prayerful during this challenging period.
In a separate communication, the diocese through Rev Fr. Jatau Joseph, the Diocesan Secretary, released the names of the children who successfully escaped from their captors, providing transparency and reassurance to concerned families and the public.
The incident at St. Mary's Catholic School represents one of the largest school abductions in Nigeria's recent history, adding to the concerning timeline of educational institution attacks that has seen over 1,600 students kidnapped in similar circumstances across the country.
