In a glimmer of hope amidst a harrowing ordeal, fifty of the 303 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger state, Nigeria, have managed to escape captivity and reunite with their families. The Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and proprietor of the school, confirmed the development on Sunday. The children, aged between 10 and 18, reportedly escaped individually between Friday and Saturday. However, the situation remains dire, as 253 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still being held by the kidnappers. Yohanna stated that the school authorities were able to verify the escapes after contacting and visiting some of the parents. The abduction occurred on Friday when gunmen stormed the remote Papiri community school, seizing both students and teachers. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities have deployed tactical squads alongside local hunters in a bid to rescue the remaining captives. The whereabouts of the children during their captivity and the circumstances of their escape remain unclear. Nigeria’s military and police have yet to respond to inquiries from the Associated Press regarding the incident.
50 schoolchildren escape captivity in Nigeria, 253 students and 12 teachers still being held
