Fifty children kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwarra LGA of Niger State, have escaped and reunited with their families, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed on Sunday.
Daniel Atori, media aide to the Niger State CAN Chairman and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, said the children slipped away from their captors between Friday and Saturday.
According to him, the escape was verified after CAN visited several parents to confirm the whereabouts of their children.
Of the 430 pupils in the primary section alone, 377 are boarders. CAN explained that apart from the 50 who escaped and 141 who were not taken during the attack, 236 pupils, three children of staff, 14 secondary school students, and 12 teachers (making 253 people) remain in captivity.
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Empty dormitories with scattered belongings now lie inside the school, a stark reminder of Friday’s mass abduction in which terrorists overran the premises and fled with hundreds of children.
CAN initially feared 227 people were taken, but after conducting a final census, the figure rose sharply to 315 abductees—303 students and 12 teachers. Bishop Yohanna said the revised number followed a careful verification after more parents reported missing children.
He dismissed rumours that the school received advance warnings from security agencies.
According to him, neither the Diocese, the Education Secretary, nor private school associations received any directive to shut down. He described the circulating claims as an attempt to “shift blame.”
Yohanna also debunked reports that the school is owned by individuals or that any Reverend Sister fled to Abuja, insisting it is fully run by the Catholic Diocese.
He urged the public to remain calm and prayerful, assuring that CAN is working closely with security agencies, community leaders, and the government to secure the safe return of all remaining captives.
“While we rejoice over the escape of 50 children, we continue to pray and work tirelessly for the release of every child still held,” he said.
