Posted by Samuel on Sun 23rd Nov, 2025 - tori.ng
The pupils, taken during a midnight attack on the school last week, were said to have regained their freedom between Friday and Saturday but did not immediately return to the school premises.
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Sunday confirmed that 50 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have successfully escaped captivity and returned to their families.
Tori News reported that the pupils, taken during a midnight attack on the school last week, were said to have regained their freedom between Friday and Saturday but did not immediately return to the school premises.
Speaking on the development, the Niger State CAN chairman and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, said the school administration verified the escape after contacting parents.
According to him, the children found their way home on their own, prompting school officials to embark on verification visits to confirm their safe return.
Yohanna explained that the pupils, frightened and disoriented after fleeing through the night, headed straight to their homes instead of returning to the school compound.
Here is full list of the 50 pupils who escaped:
Samson Bitrus
Emmanuel Francis
Amos Mathew
Timothy Peter
Ayuba Victor
Bulus Emmanuel
Bulus Samaila
Caleb Hossa
Catherine Emmanuel
Christopher Ezekiel
Dominic Daniel
Dominic Elisha
Elisha Haruna
Ezekiel Yakubu
Ezekiel Emmanuel
Ezekiel Samuel
Ezekiel Plus
Ezra James
Femi Peter
Gloria Jeremiah
Godiya Mathew
Ibiya
Ishaaya 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
Priscilla Peter
Emmanuel Godwin
Samaila Dauda
Stephen Andrew
Sunday Shadrach
Victoria David
Victoria Ishaku
Vincent Emmanuel
Yahaya Sani
Yakubu Saminu
Yunusa Musa
Yusuf Sunday