Brave Escape: 50 Children Flee Kidnappers in Nigeria

Mon Nov 24 2025 00:16:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a daring escape from captivity, 50 out of 315 kidnapped children from a Catholic school in Nigeria have returned to their families amid ongoing rescue efforts for the remaining abductees.

Fifty children who were kidnapped from St. Mary's School in Niger State, Nigeria, have escaped and been reunited with their families. Their abduction, part of a worrying trend where students are targeted by armed groups for ransom, has led to school closures across several states. A major military-led search continues for the remaining 265 children and 12 teachers still captured. This incident reflects ongoing security issues in Nigeria, prompting calls for immediate government action and renewed public concern.

Fifty of the 315 children kidnapped by gunmen from a Catholic school in Nigeria's Niger State on Friday have escaped. The Christian Association of Nigeria states they have been reunited with their families. A major military-led search and rescue operation is under way for the remaining 265 children and 12 teachers who were taken with them. Calling for the release of the abductees, Pope Leo XIV expressed immense sadness and urged the authorities to act swiftly.

Following the mass abduction, authorities in several Nigerian states ordered schools to close, indicating heightened security concerns. News of the children's escape brought welcome relief for families and for a country troubled by widespread kidnappings. Reports suggest the pupils managed to flee between Friday and Saturday, demonstrating bravery in their risky attempt to escape their captors. The army, police, and local vigilantes are currently conducting searches in nearby forests for the remaining abductees. This latest incident has intensified calls for effective measures to combat the alarming trend of school kidnappings in Nigeria.