Breaking: Niger School Releases Latest Information on Kidnapped Students, Staff

The school administration verified on Sunday that fifty students who were kidnapped from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, had managed to free themselves from their captors and reunited with their families.

According to reports, the escape occurred just a few days after gunmen broke into the school and kidnapped 303 children, causing national indignation and escalating calls for increased school security.

The students did not return to the school grounds after escaping between Friday and Saturday, according to school officials. Rather, every child either returned home or was located in neighboring areas.

In order to establish that the children had returned safely, the school visited and contacted the parents.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese and Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) branch in Niger State, acknowledged the situation in an electronically signed update by his media assistant, Daniel Atori.

Although the escape offers some respite, Yohanna cautioned that the problem is far from resolved.

“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,” he said.

“For the records, we now have 251 primary pupils, 14 secondary students, and 12 teachers still with their abductors,” the Bishop stated, giving a thorough breakdown.

377 of the 430 students in the elementary department are boarders, while the remaining 53 are not.

As of right now, there are 141 students who were not hauled away, in addition to the 50 who managed to escape and have returned home. As of right now, we have 236 students, three additional children who are members of our staff, fourteen secondary students, and a total of 253 children, including twelve staff members who are abductors.

While the remaining victims are being rescued, Yohanna begged for composure.

“I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims, even as we receive the return of these 50 children who escaped with some sigh of relief,” he said.

“As we continue to aggressively work with security personnel, community leaders, the government, and pertinent agencies for the safe and prompt return of all abductees, I want to urge everyone to maintain composure and pray.

“May the Lord continue to shield his people from all threats and grant prompt release to those who have been kidnapped.”