No fewer than 50 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Secondary and Primary School, Papiri, in the Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have escaped from captivity.

The chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Niger State chapter, Bulus Yohanna, gave the update, according to a statement from his office on Sunday.

Mr Yohanna, who is also the proprietor of the school and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, said the children had reunited with their families.

“This is to notify the public that as at Sunday, 23rd November, 2025, we have received some good news, as fifty pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents,” the statement reads.

It added, “The pupils escaped between Friday and Saturday and have reunited with their parents, as they could not return to the school after they escaped.”

According to the statement, about 253 people are still in captivity.

“As it stands now, we have 236 pupils, another three children who belong to our staff, and 14 secondary students, making a total of 253 children, including 12 members of staff with the abductors,” the statement said.

Bandits had invaded the school in the early hours of Friday, shooting the security guard on duty before abducting the schoolchildren and staff members.

Security agencies and community vigilantes are said to be intensifying efforts to rescue the remaining pupils and staff still in captivity.

The incident adds to the growing wave of school kidnappings in the region, heightening renewed calls for stronger security measures around vulnerable learning institutions.