By our reporter 23.11.2025
Fifty students out of the 315 kidnapped by gunmen from the St. Mary’s Catholic Private Primary and Secondary School in Kontagora, Niger State, have returned home to their parents.
Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna disclosed in a statement Sunday that the group of 50 students made it out of the forest on their own.
“As of Sunday, 23 November 2025, we received encouraging reports that 50 pupils have escaped and are now with their parents,” the statement said.
Despite this development, a significant number of victims remain missing.
Yohanna disclosed that 236 primary school children, three children belonging to staff, 14 secondary students, and 12 teachers, totaling 265 people, are still in captivity.
He explained that the primary school has 430 registered pupils, including 377 boarders and 53 day students.
He reassured the public that church and community leaders are maintaining close contact with security agencies and government authorities in the effort to rescue all remaining hostages.