Fifty of the pupils abducted last Friday from St. Mary Private Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State have regained freedom after escaping from their captors and reuniting with their families.
In a statement on Sunday by his media aide, Daniel Atori, the Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, who is also the Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, said: ‘This is to notify the public that, as of Sunday, 23 November 2025, we received some good news as fifty (50) pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents’.
According to the diocese, 236 pupils remain in captivity, including three children of staff members and 14 secondary school students, bringing the total number still held to 253 pupils and 12 staff.
Yohanna appealed for sustained intercession as efforts continue to secure the release of those still in custody.
‘As much as we receive the return of these 50 children with some sigh of relief, I urge everyone to continue in prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims’, he said.
A separate document signed by the Diocesan Secretary, Rev. Fr. Jatau Joseph, provided the names of the 50 pupils who returned home:
- Samson Bitrus
- Emmanuel Francis
- Amos Mathew
- Timothy Peter
- Ayuba Victor
- Bulus Emmanuel
- Bulus Samaila
- Caleb Hosea
- Catherine Emmanuel
- Christopher Ezekiel
- Dominic Daniel
- Dominic Elisha
- Elisha Harunna
- Elisha Yakubu
- Ezekiel Emmanuel
- Ezekiel Joel
- Ezekiel Pius
- Ezra James
- Friday Joel
- Gloria Jeremiah
- Godiya Mathew
- Iliya Philip
- Ishaya David
- Joseph Sunday
- Julius Paul
- Justina Adamu
- Keziah Musa
- Lawrence James
- Lawrence Yohanna
- Marcus Bulus
- Mariam Joshua
- Mathew Dauda
- Micah Luka
- Michael Jacob
- Musa Timothy
- Naomi Bulus
- Nicodemus Ibrahim
- Peter Jonathan
- Pricillia Peter
- Emmanuel Godwin
- Samaila Dauda
- Stephen Anthony
- Sunday Shedrack
- Veronica Iliya
- Victoria Ishaku
- Vincent Emmanuel
- Wisdom Fabian
- Yakubu Saminu
- Yunusa Musa
- Yusuf Sunday
The abduction of the 303 pupils and staff prompted the state government to order the closure of all schools across the state on Saturday as a precautionary measure.
