Nigeria school kidnappings: 50 escape; 265 still held as Pope urges release
Armed men abducted 303 students and 12 teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic school in Niger state — boys and girls aged about 10–18 — and while 50 pupils escaped and are now with families, 253 students and 12 teachers (265 people) remain captive. Pope Leo XIV publicly appealed for their immediate release as authorities deploy tactical squads and local hunters, no group has claimed responsibility, and Niger state has closed schools amid disputes over whether the school had been reopened.
Nigeria Insecurity
Nigeria Security and Abductions
Vatican and global religious leaders
Nigeria school abductions
U.S. Foreign Policy
📌 Key Facts
- The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) says 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic school in Niger state after a verification and final census.
- CAN chair Bulus Dauwa Yohanna said the victims are boys and girls aged 10–18 and that 88 students were captured after attempting to escape.
- School officials say 50 of the 303 abducted students escaped between Friday and Saturday and are now with families, leaving an updated toll of 253 students and 12 teachers still held (265 people still captive).
- Authorities have deployed tactical squads and local hunters in search operations; no group has claimed responsibility for the kidnappings.
- Niger State Governor Umar Bago ordered all schools in the state closed until further notice, calling it an early "Christmas holiday," while CAN disputed a state claim that the school had reopened, saying no such directive was received and accusing the statement of shifting blame.
- Pope Leo XIV publicly appealed from St. Peter’s Square for the immediate release of the hostages, saying he was "deeply saddened."
- In a separate attack, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said 38 worshippers who had been abducted from a church were freed; President Bola Tinubu credited security agencies for their release.
📰 Sources (3)
Pope calls on kidnappers to free 265 Nigerian students and teachers after 50 pupils escape
New information:
- School proprietor Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna says 50 of the 303 abducted students escaped between Friday and Saturday and are now with families.
- Updated toll: 253 students and 12 teachers remain captive (265 total).
- Pope Leo XIV publicly appealed from St. Peter’s Square for the hostages’ immediate release, saying he was “deeply saddened.”
- Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said 38 worshippers abducted in a separate church attack were freed; President Bola Tinubu credited security agencies.
More than 300 children were abducted in an attack on a Catholic school in Nigeria
New information:
- Christian Association of Nigeria now says 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers were abducted at St. Mary’s in Niger state after a verification and final census.
- CAN chair Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna added that 88 other students were captured after trying to escape; victims are boys and girls ages 10–18.
- Niger Gov. Umar Bago announced all schools in the state are closed until further notice, calling it an early 'Christmas holiday' following a security meeting in Minna.
- CAN disputed the state’s claim the school had reopened, saying no such directive was received and calling the statement an afterthought to shift blame.
- Authorities say tactical squads and local hunters have been deployed; no group has claimed responsibility.