Fifty Children Freed After Mass Abduction in Nigeria

Mon Nov 24 2025 03:57:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A recent kidnapping incident in Niger State, Nigeria has resulted in the escape of fifty children from a Catholic school as efforts to rescue the remaining captives continue.

Fifty out of the 315 children kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic School in Niger State, Nigeria, have escaped and been reunited with their families. This incident has sparked outrage and concerns about the safety of schools in various states. Pope Leo XIV has called for immediate action to secure the release of the remaining captives. The tragic event has garnered attention due to its comparisons to past mass abductions in Nigeria, highlighting the ongoing crisis regarding school safety.

Fifty Children Freed After Mass Abduction in Nigeria

Fifty of the 315 children kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in Nigeria's Niger State on Friday have escaped. The Christian Association of Nigeria confirms they have been reunited with their families. A major military-led search and rescue operation is underway for the remaining 265 children and 12 teachers who were taken with them.

Calling for the release of the abductees, Pope Leo XIV expressed immense sadness and urged the authorities to act swiftly. Following this mass abduction, authorities in several Nigerian states ordered schools to shut down as a security measure.

News of the children's escape has brought relief to families grappling with anxiety over the fates of hundreds of schoolchildren abducted in Nigeria's northwest. Reports indicate the pupils managed to escape between Friday and Saturday in a brave attempt to flee their captors.

The mass abduction at St Mary's School in Papiri has drawn comparisons to the infamous Chibok kidnapping in 2014, where 276 girls were taken, many of whom are still missing today. Local police have stated armed men stormed the school around 02:00 (01:00 GMT) during the early hours of Friday.

The governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umaru Bongo, announced the closure of all schools in the region, emphasizing that this is not a time for blame game. The military, police, and local vigilantes are conducting extensive search operations in the nearby forests and remote routes believed to have been used by the abductors.

The ongoing issue of kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs, known as bandits, has become increasingly prevalent in Nigeria. Despite a ban on ransom payments intended to disrupt the financial support for these gangs, the situation continues to deteriorate, prompting further calls for action from the government and the international community.