50 schoolchildren escape captivity in Nigeria, 253 college students and 12 academics nonetheless being held

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Fifty of the 303 schoolchildren kidnapped from a Catholic college in north-central Nigeria’s Niger state have escaped captivity and at the moment are with their households, the college authority stated Sunday, bringing aid to some distraught households after one of many largest college abductions in Nigeria’s historical past.

The schoolchildren, aged between 10 and 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday, in keeping with the Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria in Niger state and the proprietor of the college. A complete of 253 schoolchildren and 12 academics are nonetheless being held by the abductors, he stated in a press release.

“We have been capable of verify this after we determined to contact and go to some dad and mom,” Yohanna stated.

The scholars have been seized along with their academics by gunmen who attacked St. Mary’s Faculty, positioned in Niger state’s distant Papiri neighborhood, on Friday. No group has but claimed duty for the abductions, and authorities have stated tactical squads have been deployed alongside native hunters to rescue the kids.

It was not instantly clear the place the Niger state kids have been being held or how they managed to return house. Nigeria’s navy and police didn't instantly reply to an Related Press inquiry.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A room with empty bunkbeds is shown." srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/a0e9545c-805e-4bca-a159-49b19f8fe9e1,1763911583652/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2000%2C900%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/a0e9545c-805e-4bca-a159-49b19f8fe9e1,1763911583652/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2000%2C900%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/a0e9545c-805e-4bca-a159-49b19f8fe9e1,1763911583652/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2000%2C900%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/a0e9545c-805e-4bca-a159-49b19f8fe9e1,1763911583652/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C2000%2C900%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:2.2222222222222223" data-cy="image-img"/> A dormitory at St. Mary's Faculty, positioned in Niger state's Papiri neighborhood, is proven after gunmen kidnapped college students and workers on Friday. (Christian Affiliation of Nigeria/The Related Press) “As a lot as we obtain the return of those 50 kids that escaped with some sigh of aid, I urge you all to proceed in your prayers for the rescue and secure return of the remaining victims,” Yohanna stated.

The Niger state assault occurred 4 days after 25 schoolchildren have been seized in related circumstances in neighbouring Kebbi state’s Maga city, which is 170 kilometres away.

Each states are in a northern area of Nigeria, the place dozens of armed gangs have used kidnapping for ransom as a method of dominating distant communities with little authorities and safety presence.

Satellite tv for pc pictures present that the Niger state college compound is connected to an adjoining main college, with greater than 50 classroom and dormitory buildings. It’s positioned close to a serious highway linking the cities of Yelwa and Mokwa.

Faculty kidnappings have come to outline insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation, and armed gangs usually see colleges as “strategic” targets to attract extra consideration.

Niger state hurriedly closed down all colleges after Friday’s assault, whereas some federal faculties in battle scorching spots throughout the area have been additionally closed by the Nigerian authorities.