Fifty out of the 303 schoolchildren who were taken from a Catholic school in north-central Nigeria’s Niger state have managed to flee and reunite with their families, as confirmed by the school authority on Sunday. This development has provided some relief to families following one of the largest school abductions in Nigeria’s history.
The children, ranging from 10 to 18 years old, escaped individually over the span of Friday to Saturday, stated Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and the school’s owner. Presently, 253 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity, as per Yohanna’s statement.
The abduction occurred when gunmen attacked St. Mary’s School in the remote Papiri community of Niger state on Friday. No group has claimed responsibility for the abductions, and efforts are underway by tactical squads and local hunters to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
Although 50 children have fled, it remains unclear where they were held or how they escaped to return home. The military and police in Nigeria have not responded to inquiries regarding this incident. Yohanna urged continued prayers for the safe rescue of the remaining victims.
This incident in Niger state followed a similar abduction of 25 schoolchildren in Maga town, Kebbi state, just days earlier. Both states are situated in a northern area of Nigeria where armed groups frequently resort to kidnapping for ransom in areas with limited government presence.
Satellite imagery indicates that the school in Niger state is adjacent to a primary school and consists of numerous classroom and dormitory buildings. It is located close to a major road connecting Yelwa and Mokwa towns. School kidnappings have become synonymous with insecurity in Nigeria, with armed groups targeting schools to garner attention.
In response to the attack, Niger state promptly closed all schools, while the Nigerian government shut down some federal colleges in conflict-prone regions across the country.