On Friday, armed attackers abducted 303 students from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Nigeria, sparking widespread alarm and international condemnation. Fifty of the captives managed to escape over the weekend, officials confirmed on Sunday, while the remaining 253 students and 12 teachers remain missing. The Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, revealed that families were contacted and confirmed the number of missing students. While the exact details of the escape remain undisclosed, officials confirmed that tactical squads and local hunters are working to locate and rescue the remaining captives.
The attack has prompted schools across Niger to remain closed, reflecting the broader impact on education in the region. Pope Francis, during a Mass in St. Peter’s Square, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, calling it a