Fifty of the 303 students abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State have escaped and reunited with their families, prompting renewed global attention on Nigeria’s deepening security crisis.
The announcement was made on Sunday, November 23, by the school authority. The children, aged 10 to 18, fled captivity individually over two days, though 253 students and 12 teachers remain missing. The attack, which occurred in the remote Papiri community, forms part of a broader surge in violence that has also seen worshippers abducted in Kwara State and police officers killed in Bauchi State.
As uncertainty persists over the fate and location of the remaining hostages, Pope Leo XIV delivered a poignant appeal from Rome on Sunday, calling for their immediate release and expressing profound sorrow for the families in distress.
Nigerian authorities have yet to provide updates on rescue efforts, while the region continues to grapple with heavily armed gangs who exploit weak security structures and remote terrain. Schools across Niger State have been shut down as a precaution, underscoring the magnitude of the threat.
Kidnapping for ransom has become entrenched in northern Nigeria, with more than 1,500 students abducted over the past decade. Analysts warn that the lack of consequences fuels the continuity of these crimes.
President Bola Tinubu, responding to recent incidents in Niger and Kebbi states, affirmed that his administration will not relent until every hostage is safely returned, pledging renewed efforts to restore public confidence in national security.