In a glimmer of hope amidst a grim situation, 50 children abducted from St Mary’s Catholic School in Nigeria have managed to escape their captors. The mass kidnapping, which occurred on Friday in Niger state, saw gunmen seize 303 students and 12 teachers, marking one of the largest such incidents in the country’s history. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed the escape, stating that the children, aged between eight and 18, reunited with their families between Friday and Saturday. This group represents nearly half of the school’s total student population of 629. The Nigerian government has yet to issue an official statement on the abduction. Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, CAN chairman in Niger State, urged continued prayers for the safe return of the remaining victims. The incident has reignited concerns over Nigeria’s escalating security crisis, which has led to widespread school closures. Since the infamous Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction over a decade ago, Nigeria has faced a surge in mass kidnappings, often orchestrated by criminal gangs seeking ransom. Pope Leo XIV expressed ‘deep sorrow’ for the victims and their families, calling for the immediate release of all hostages. The recent spate of kidnappings and attacks, including an assault on a church in western Nigeria, has drawn international attention, with former US President Donald Trump condemning the violence as ‘a disgrace.’ Meanwhile, Nigeria continues to grapple with a deadly militant insurgency in its northeast, which has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced millions since 2019.