Abducted Catholic Schoolchildren In Nigeria Escape Captivity
Fifty schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in north-central Nigeria escaped captivity and returned to their families, school authorities announced Sunday.
The students, aged 10 to 18, fled individually between Friday and Saturday after gunmen seized 303 people from St. Mary’s School in Niger state’s remote Papiri community, according to The Associated Press. A total of 253 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity, according to Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and the school’s proprietor.
“We were able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents,” Yohanna said in a statement.
Authorities have not disclosed where the captives are being held or how the 50 children managed to escape. No group has claimed responsibility for the Friday attack.
Pope Leo calls for the release of hostages in Nigeria and Cameroon pic.twitter.com/mdJ6SMaaGQ
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) November 23, 2025
Pope Leo XIV called for the immediate release of the remaining hostages during a mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday. (Read more from “Abducted Catholic Schoolchildren In Nigeria Escape Captivity” HERE)
