BREAKING: 50 Students Escape After Mass Kidnapping at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State

• Fifty of the more than 300 students abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State have escaped and reunited with their families, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed.

• Over 250 children and teachers remain in captivity as rescue operations intensify.

Fifty of the over 300 schoolchildren abducted by gunmen from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State have escaped their captors, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) announced on Sunday.

In its statement, CAN said the children regained freedom between Friday and Saturday and have since been reunited with their parents.

“We have received some good news as 50 pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents,” said Reverend Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, CAN chairman in Niger State. “As much as we receive the return of these 50 children with some sigh of relief, I urge everyone to continue praying for the safe rescue of the remaining victims.”

The abducted students are between the ages of 10 and 18.

Gunmen had stormed the school on Friday, taking 303 children and 12 teachers in what has become one of Nigeria’s largest mass kidnappings. It remains unclear where the victims are being held or how the 50 pupils managed to escape.

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Authorities say tactical teams have been deployed alongside local hunters to search surrounding forests and coordinate rescue operations. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The St. Mary’s abduction came just days after armed men invaded a girls’ secondary school in neighbouring Kebbi State, kidnapping 25 students amid rising insecurity across northern Nigeria. The repeated attacks have triggered widespread fear and forced temporary school closures in several communities.

As rescue efforts continue, families of the remaining captives anxiously await news of their loved ones while security forces intensify their search.