Relief has swept across Niger State after 50 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, escaped from captivity and reunited with their families.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed the development on Sunday, days after armed men invaded the school in a midnight attack and whisked the students away.

Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, Chairman of CAN in Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, revealed that the pupils regained freedom between Friday and Saturday but did not initially return to the school premises. Instead, many fled through the night and instinctively headed straight home.

According to Yohanna, the school administration has since embarked on verification visits to ensure every child is safely reunited with their family.

He noted that the pupils were frightened and disoriented after the escape, but their return has brought hope and gratitude to the affected communities.

 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