DST News: Fifty of the 303 students kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger state have escaped and reunited with their families, school officials announced on Sunday. The development comes as global appeals grow for the safe return of those still being held.

The children — aged 10 to 18 — fled their captors individually between Friday and Saturday, said Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, who heads the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger state and owns St. Mary’s Catholic School.

According to Yohanna, 253 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity, and the school confirmed the escapees’ return only after reaching out directly to their parents.

In a separate but related incident, 38 worshippers abducted during a deadly attack on the Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara state have also regained their freedom, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said.

Gunmen had stormed the church in Eruku town on Tuesday, killing two people before seizing dozens of worshippers.

Human rights activist Aisha Yesufu, co-founder of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, described her reaction as “numb and heartbroken,” saying Nigeria must unite to protect its children from such violence.

President Bola Tinubu, in a brief statement, credited security agencies for securing the release of the Kwara hostages, though no details were provided.

Source: Africanews.