A wave of relief swept through Niger State as 50 abducted pupils regained their freedom and reunited with their families, according to confirmation from a leading Catholic bishop involved in the rescue effort. The students, who were kidnapped by armed bandits in a recent attack on a rural community school, reportedly escaped from captivity after days of being held in harsh conditions.
The bishop revealed that the children managed to flee during a moment of vulnerability within the kidnappers’ camp, taking advantage of a lapse in security. Local vigilante groups, supported by community volunteers, later found them wandering through nearby bushes—tired, dehydrated, but alive.
Authorities are still working to verify the exact number of escapees and identify those who remain missing. Medical teams and trauma counselors have been deployed to provide immediate care, as many of the rescued pupils are said to be in fragile emotional and physical condition.
Security forces are intensifying search operations across forested terrains in Niger State, while negotiations and investigations continue. Community leaders have praised the courage of the children and emphasized the urgent need for stronger protection measures in vulnerable rural schools.
Sources
Direct statements from Catholic clergy in Niger State
Local security and vigilante briefings
Community eyewitness accounts
Niger State emergency response officials
