Fifty of the abducted school pupils of St. Mary Private Primary and Secondary Schools, Niger State, have reportedly escaped from their captors and have reunited with their parents.
The Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria and Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, made this known on Sunday in a statement issued by his media aide, Daniel Atori.
He stated that they discovered the development after visiting the parents of the children.
The chairman explained that the school currently has 236 pupils in captivity, including three children belonging to staff members and 14 secondary students, making a total of 253 children and 12 staff members still held by the abductors.
“This is to notify the public that as of Sunday, 23rd November 2025, we received some good news as fifty (50) pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents.
“This comes just a few days after suspected terrorists attacked and abducted 303 pupils and students.
“The pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday and have reunited with their parents, as they could not return to the school after escaping. We were able to ascertain this when we contacted and visited some parents,” the statement read.
Yohanna added that in the primary section, out of the total number of 430 pupils enrolled, 377 are boarders while the remaining 53 are day students.
“Currently, aside from the 50 pupils who escaped and returned home, we have 141 pupils who were not abducted.
“As it stands now, we have 236 pupils, another three children belonging to staff, and 14 secondary school students — making a total of 253 children — in addition to 12 members of staff with the abductors,” he said.
While expressing relief at the return of the 50 children, the CAN chairman appealed for continued prayers for those still held.
“As much as we receive the return of these 50 children with some sigh of relief, I urge everyone to continue in prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims.
“I call on everyone to remain calm and prayerful. We will continue to actively collaborate with security operatives, community leaders, government, and relevant authorities for the safe and quick return of all abductees.
“May the Lord grant quick release to those abducted and continue to protect His people from all dangers,” Yohanna said.
According to the separate document signed by the Diocesan Secretary, Rev Fr. Jatau Joseph, below is the full list of the 50 pupils who have returned home:
1. Samson Bitrus
2. Emmanuel Francis
3. Amos Mathew
4. Timothy Peter
5. Ayuba Victor
6. Bulus Emmanuel
7. Bulus Samaila
8. Caleb Hosea
9. Catherine Emmanuel
10. Christopher Ezekiel
11. Dominic Daniel
12. Dominic Elisha
13. Elisha Harunna
14. Elisha Yakubu
15. Ezekiel Emmanuel
16. Ezekiel Joel
17. Ezekiel Pius
18. Ezra James
19. Friday Joel
20. Gloria Jeremiah
21. Godiya Mathew
22. Iliya Philip
23. Ishaya David
24. Joseph Sunday
25. Julius Paul
26. Justina Adamu
27. Keziah Musa
28. Lawrence James
29. Lawrence Yohanna
30. Marcus Bulus
31. Mariam Joshua
32. Mathew Dauda
33. Micah Luka
34. Michael Jacob
35. Musa Timothy
36. Naomi Bulus
37. Nicodemus Ibrahim
38. Peter Jonathan
39. Pricillia Peter
40. Emmanuel Godwin
41. Samaila Dauda
42. Stephen Anthony
43. Sunday Shedrack
44. Veronica Iliya
45. Victoria Ishaku
46. Vincent Emmanuel
47. Wisdom Fabian
48. Yakubu Saminu
49. Yunusa Musa
50. Yusuf Sunday
A total of 315 persons — including pupils, students and teachers — were abducted from St. Mary Private Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area on Friday.
The incident prompted the state governor, Mohammed Bago, to order the closure of schools across the state on Saturday.
