Students Escape from Abduction in Niger State
A Catholic school in Niger State has reported that 50 of the students who were abducted last week have managed to escape. However, 253 children and 12 teachers are still unaccounted for.
The president of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State, Pastor Bulusu Dauwa Yohanna, spoke to the media on Sunday, sharing that the students, aged 10 to 18, returned one by one between Friday and Saturday after being taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School. He noted, “We were able to confirm this when we decided to contact and visit some parents.” While the return of these 50 children is heartening, he urged everyone to continue praying for the remaining victims.
Currently, the whereabouts of those still missing are unknown, and no group has taken responsibility for the abduction.
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu congratulated the returned students and reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the safe return of all who have been taken. “Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to security. And on my watch, we will make this country safe and protect our people,” he expressed on social media.
This kidnapping incident happened just days after another abduction, where 25 students were taken in Maga, a town in Kebbi State, which is about 166 miles away. Both events are part of a troubling trend of school kidnappings in northern Nigeria, where ransom-driven abductions have become common among armed groups operating in areas with little government presence. According to an advocacy group, around 20,000 people have been kidnapped in Nigeria from 2019 to 2023.
Interestingly, many of these criminals tend to target those they believe are more likely to pay a higher ransom—like Christians and religious leaders. This has left these groups particularly vulnerable, as stated by Open Doors. There are reports indicating that around 7,000 Christians were killed in 2025 alone and, over the past decade, many more have suffered the same fate. In fact, Nigeria ranks as one of the most severe countries for Christian persecution globally.
Earlier this month, U.S. Representative Riley Moore introduced a resolution condemning this ongoing persecution. Former President Trump also designated Nigeria as a “country of particular concern” regarding the treatment of Christians.
