Fifty of the more than 300 children abducted by
bandits from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger
State, have escaped their captors, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN)
confirmed on Sunday.
Daniel Atori, media aide to the CAN Chairman in Niger
State, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, announced in a statement that the children
escaped between Friday and Saturday and have since reunited with their
families.
“We have received some good news as fifty pupils
escaped and have reunited with their parents,” Atori said. “They escaped
between Friday and Saturday and could not return to the school, so we confirmed
their return by contacting and visiting some parents.”
According to the updated figures, the primary section
has 430 pupils, 377 of whom are boarders.
Aside from the 50 children who escaped and 141 who were not captured, 236
pupils remain with the abductors, along with three children of staff members,
14 secondary students, and 12 staff — bringing the total number of people still
in captivity to 253.
Most Rev. Yohanna, who is both CAN Chairman in Niger
State and the Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, issued the update after a
verification exercise and a final census of affected families.
Initial reports estimated 227 abductees, but CAN later
confirmed that 315 people were taken — 303 students and 12 teachers.
Yohanna explained that some children initially
believed to have escaped were later confirmed missing.
“After further enquiries, we discovered that 88 more students were actually
captured after they tried to flee,” he said. “Parents returned asking about
their children, and this prompted us to conduct a full census.”
CAN Denies Receiving Security Warning
Before Attack
Addressing claims that the school had received
intelligence warnings prior to the bandits’ invasion, the CAN Chairman strongly
refuted such reports.
“That is not true. We did not receive any circular,”
he said. “It must be an afterthought or an attempt to shift blame.”
Yohanna stressed that the Catholic Diocese owns the
school, not any individual, and dismissed allegations that Reverend Sisters had
traveled to Abuja despite warnings.
“We asked the Education Secretary, and he confirmed he received no circular,
verbal or written. Private school associations also confirmed they received
none,” he added.
School Community Remains in Shock
Images from the school show empty bunk beds, scattered
belongings, and deserted classrooms — stark reminders of the attack that has
plunged the community into fear.
Over 300 students were abducted when heavily armed
terrorists stormed the school in the early hours of Friday. The large-scale
invasion has drawn national and international condemnation, including from the
Pope, who called for the immediate release of the abducted children.
Prayers and Hope for Safe Rescue
CAN has urged the public to remain calm while
intensifying prayers for the victims still in captivity.
“As much as we receive the return of these 50 children
with relief, we urge everyone to continue praying for the safe return of the
remaining victims,” Atori said. “We are working closely with security agencies,
community leaders, and government officials.”
He prayed that God would “grant quick release to those
abducted and protect His people from all dangers.”
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