Nigerian School Kidnappings: A Plea for Freedom

Fifty abducted students escaped a Nigerian Catholic school, but 253 remain captive. The kidnappings triggered school closures in northern Nigeria. Pope Leo appealed for their immediate release, highlighting the severity of the mass abduction. Parents anxiously await updates, with many children still held by the captors.

In a recent development, fifty students who were kidnapped from a Catholic school in Nigeria have managed to escape and reunite with their families, officials from the Catholic Church and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported. This comes as a glimmer of hope amidst the ongoing crisis.

According to CAN Chairman Bulus Yohanna, who also owns the affected school, around 253 students, alongside 12 staff members, remain in captivity. The escape reportedly occurred over Friday and Saturday, prompting anxious parents to flock to the school located in Niger state, near Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

The kidnappings, part of a concerning trend of school attacks, have forced closures of several institutions in Northern Nigeria. Pope Leo has called for the immediate release of all hostages, underlining the urgent need to address this increasing threat to education and security in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)