Fifty of the 303 students from Nigeria’s St. Mary’s School have escaped following a recent attack, with officials stating that the remaining 253 students and 12 teachers are still being held. The Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, confirmed the escapes and noted the lack of details on how the students managed to flee. Pope Francis expressed deep sorrow and issued an appeal for the immediate release of the hostages.
No group has come forward to claim responsibility for the attack, The Associated Press reported. The outlet added that authorities said tactical squads and local hunters were working to rescue the kidnapped children. In a related development, 38 worshippers kidnapped during a deadly church attack in central Nigeria’s Kwara State have been freed, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said Sunday. Gunmen had attacked the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku town on Tuesday, killing two and taking others hostage. President Bola Tinubu credited ‘the efforts of security agencies’ for securing their release but offered no further details.
Nigeria has seen a series of attacks on Christians and their institutions, prompting President Donald Trump to declare the West African nation a ‘country of particular concern.’ However, the Nigerian government has disputed the U.S.’s claims. ‘I’m really angry about it,’ the president told Fox News Radio on Friday. ‘What’s happening in Nigeria is a disgrace.’