Fifty kidnapped Catholic college college students in Nigeria escape

[ad_1] Merchandise 1 of 5 An individual seems at newspapers with headlines on current abductions at a stand in Space 1, Abuja, Nigeria, November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Marvellous Durowaiye

[1/5] An individual seems at newspapers with headlines on current abductions at a stand in Space 1, Abuja, Nigeria, November 23, 2025. REUTERS/Marvellous Durowaiye <a data-testid="Link" target="_blank" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" href="https://www.reutersconnect.com/item/more-than-300-taken-from-nigeria-school-in-one-of-worst-mass-abductions/dGFnOnJldXRlcnMuY29tLDIwMjU6bmV3c21sX1JDMkMySUFTSkxBUA%3D%3D/?utm_medium=rcom-article-media&utm_campaign=rcom-rcp-lead" rel="noopener" class="text-module__text__0GDob text-module__inherit-color__PhuPF text-module__inherit-font__1P1hv text-module__inherit-size__EyiQW link-module__link__INqxZ link-module__underline_default__-okuC link-module__with-icon__qlg76 collapsible-caption-module__license__CPQvV">Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab 253 kids and 12 employees are nonetheless held by kidnappers, church affiliation says Pope appeals for his or her rapid launch Current kidnappings immediate college closures in northern Nigeria President Tinubu orders hiring of 30,000 extra law enforcement officials MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Fifty of the greater than 300 students kidnapped from a Nigerian Catholic college final week have escaped and have been reunited with their dad and mom, the Catholic Church and Christian Affiliation of Nigeria (CAN) mentioned on Sunday. However round 253 of the kidnapped kids, together with 12 employees members and lecturers, are nonetheless with the abductors, mentioned CAN Chairman Bulus Yohanna, a Catholic Bishop who can be the proprietor of the college.

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In a press release, Yohanna mentioned the pupils escaped on Friday and Saturday. Dad and mom rushed to the college in Niger state, to the west of the capital Abuja, after listening to that some kids have been free.

Amose Ibrahim was one of many dad and mom who went to St. Mary's college to test if any of his three kids had escaped.

"Sadly, they weren't among the many escapees," Ibrahim, whose youngest youngster is six years outdated, informed Reuters by telephone. "As of now, many dad and mom and their family members are roaming across the college."

PRESIDENT ORDERS HIRING OF MORE POLICE President Bola Tinubu ordered the hiring of 30,000 extra law enforcement officials at a gathering with safety chiefs on Sunday. He directed the elimination of all police from VIP safety providers to give attention to core duties, particularly in distant areas vulnerable to assaults.

Nigeria faces scrutiny from U.S. President Donald Trump who in early November threatened military action over the remedy of Christians within the nation. Gunmen kidnapped college students and lecturers from the college on Friday, the newest in a spate of college assaults that has pressured some northern states to close colleges. The federal government additionally ordered the closure of 47 faculties within the north. POPE LEO PLEADS FOR RELEASE OF CAPTIVES In response to the kidnappings, Pope Leo pleaded on Sunday for the rapid launch of those that had been taken in one of many worst mass kidnappings ever recorded in Nigeria. "I make a heartfelt enchantment for the rapid launch of the hostages," the Pope mentioned on the finish of a mass in St. Peter's Sq. in Rome.

In a separate incident, Tinubu mentioned Nigerian safety forces on Sunday rescued 38 people who have been kidnapped throughout a service at Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara state. At the very least two individuals died throughout the assault. Reporting by Ahmed Kingimi; Writing by MacDonald Dzirutwe and Ben Ezeamalu; Enhancing by Jane Merriman, David Holmes and Edmund Klamann