50 Nigerian college students escape after Catholic faculty kidnapping assault

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Fifty of the 303 college students kidnapped from a Nigerian Catholic faculty on Friday have escaped and at the moment are reunited with their households, officers stated Sunday, as faculties throughout Niger stay closed following the assault.

The scholars, ages 10 to 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday, in response to the Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria in Niger state and the varsity’s proprietor.

A complete of 253 college students and 12 teachers from St. Mary's College are nonetheless being held, Yohanna stated, including: "We had been capable of verify this after we determined to contact and go to some dad and mom."

Officers didn't present additional particulars about how the kids escaped or the place the remaining college students and academics had been being held.

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This picture launched by the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria reveals the dormitories of St. Mary's Catholic Major and Secondary College after gunmen kidnapped youngsters and workers in Papiri neighborhood in Nigeria, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Christian Affiliation of Nigeria through AP)

Pope Leo XIV known as for the quick launch of the kids and faculty workers, saying on the finish of a mass in St. Peter’s Sq. on Sunday that he was "deeply saddened" by the incident.

"I really feel nice sorrow, particularly for the various women and boys who've been kidnapped and for his or her anguished households," the pontiff stated. "I make a heartfelt enchantment for the quick launch of the hostages and urge the competent authorities to take acceptable and well timed selections to make sure their launch."

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/672/378/nigeria-st-marys-catholic-school-abduction-kidnapped.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/1344/756/nigeria-st-marys-catholic-school-abduction-kidnapped.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/931/523/nigeria-st-marys-catholic-school-abduction-kidnapped.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/11/1862/1046/nigeria-st-marys-catholic-school-abduction-kidnapped.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> On this picture launched by the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria, a person walks previous belongings on the St. Mary's Catholic Major and Secondary College after gunmen kidnapped youngsters and workers in Papiri neighborhood, Nigeria, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Christian Affiliation of Nigeria through AP)

No group has come ahead to say duty for the assault, The Related Press reported. The outlet added that authorities stated tactical squads and native hunters had been working to rescue the kidnapped youngsters.

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Niger State shortly shut down all faculties after Friday’s assault, whereas the Nigerian authorities additionally closed a number of federal faculties in conflict-prone areas throughout the area.

The assault at St. Mary’s got here simply 4 days after armed males kidnapped 25 girls from a boarding school in Kebbi State , killing a minimum of one workers member. The seek for the lacking women is ongoing.

This picture launched by the Christian Affiliation of Nigeria reveals the dormitories of St. Mary's Catholic Major and Secondary College after gunmen kidnapped youngsters and workers in Papiri neighborhood in Nigeria, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (Christian Affiliation of Nigeria through AP)

In the meantime, 38 worshippers kidnapped throughout a deadly church attack in central Nigeria’s Kwara State have been freed, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq stated Sunday. Gunmen had attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku city on Tuesday, killing two and taking others hostage. President Bola Tinubu credited "the efforts of safety businesses" for securing their launch however supplied no additional particulars.

Nigeria has seen a collection of assaults on Christians and their establishments, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a "nation of specific concern." Nevertheless, the Nigerian authorities has disputed the U.S.'s claims.