50 Freed, 200 Still Held: Unpacking Nigeria's Largest School Abduction

Fifty schoolchildren abducted from a Catholic school in north-central Nigeria's Niger state have escaped captivity and are now with their families, bringing relief to some distraught families after one of the largest school abductions in Nigeria's history. A total of 253 schoolchildren and 12 teachers are still held by the kidnappers, according to the Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and the proprietor of the St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School. The schoolchildren, aged between 10 and 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday, Yohanna said in a statement. "We were able to ascertain this when we decided to contact and visit some parents," he added. The escape of the 50 schoolchildren brings the total number of freed students to 53, with three others having escaped earlier. The kidnappers, who have not been identified, abducted 303 schoolchildren and 12 teachers from the St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri community on November 22, 2025. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation and concern over the safety of schools in Nigeria. The Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state has been working closely with the authorities to secure the release of the remaining students and teachers. Yohanna appealed to the kidnappers to release the remaining captives unconditionally. "We urge the kidnappers to release our children and teachers without any condition," he said. "We are doing everything possible to ensure their safe return." The abduction of the schoolchildren has raised concerns over the security situation in Nigeria, particularly in the north-central region. The incident is the latest in a series of school abductions in Nigeria, which has become a major security challenge for the government. In recent years, several schools have been targeted by kidnappers, who demand ransom in exchange for the release of the captives. The Nigerian government has promised to do everything possible to secure the release of the remaining students and teachers. The authorities have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers and are working closely with international partners to track down the perpetrators. As the search for the remaining captives continues, the families of the abducted students and teachers are holding on to hope for their safe return. The incident has highlighted the need for the government to take concrete steps to improve the security situation in the country, particularly in the north-central region. The St. Mary's Catholic Primary and Secondary School has been a popular institution in the Papiri community, with a strong reputation for academic excellence. The abduction of the schoolchildren has sent shockwaves across the community, with many residents expressing concern over the safety of their children. The incident has also sparked a debate over the role of technology in preventing school abductions. Some experts have suggested that the use of AI-powered surveillance systems and biometric identification could help prevent such incidents in the future. The Nigerian government has promised to explore the use of technology to improve security in schools. The authorities have also appealed to the public to provide any information that could lead to the arrest of the kidnappers and the safe return of the remaining captives. As the situation continues to unfold, the families of the abducted students and teachers remain hopeful for their safe return. The incident has highlighted the need for the government to take concrete steps to improve the security situation in the country, particularly in the north-central region.