Fifty Children Successfully Escape Mass Abduction in Nigeria

Sat Dec 20 2025 18:23:42 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a remarkable escape, 50 children from a Catholic school in Niger State, Nigeria, have been rescued after being kidnapped by armed men. The search continues for the remaining hostages amidst heightened security measures.

Fifty of the 315 children kidnapped from St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger State, Nigeria, have managed to escape and reunite with their families. A major military-led operation is ongoing to locate the remaining 265 children and 12 teachers abducted during the raid. In response to a surge in abductions, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced the recruitment of an additional 30,000 police officers. The recent events have led to the closure of schools in several states as authorities heighten security measures.

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 says 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.

Authorities in several Nigerian states ordered schools to shut following the mass abduction in Niger and another smaller hostage-taking in Kebbi state on Monday when 20 pupils were kidnapped from a boarding school.

In response to a spate of abductions, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu ordered the recruitment of an additional 30,000 police officers.

In another development, 38 people abducted from a church service in Kwara state last week were freed on Sunday, the state governor said. Two people were killed in the attack on Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku.

News of the children's escape brought welcome relief for families and for a country that has been agonizing over the fate of hundreds of schoolchildren abducted in Nigeria's northwest. Tinubu also directed the redeployment of all police in Very Important Persons (VIP) protection services to focus on core duties, especially in remote areas prone to attacks.

According to a Christian group involved in the case, the pupils managed to escape between Friday and Saturday in what is being described as a brave and risky attempt to flee their captors. The students and teachers were taken from St Mary's School in Papiri, Niger state, with their number surpassing the infamous Chibok mass abduction of 2014.

Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bongo announced on Saturday that all schools in the area would close, warning that it was not a time for blame game. Pope Leo XIV expressed immense sadness and urged the authorities to act swiftly for the release of the abductees.

The kidnapping crisis in Nigeria continues to escalate, with the military, police, and local vigilantes engaged in ongoing searches for the children, combing nearby forests and remote routes.

Despite the government’s efforts, the kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, remains a prevalent issue across many parts of Nigeria. The situation prompts concerns about safety in schools, leading authorities in various states to enforce school closures.

President Tinubu has postponed foreign trips to focus on addressing security concerns arising from recent attacks.

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