A wave of relief swept through Papiri community in Niger State over the weekend as 50 children earlier seized during a violent raid on St. Mary's Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools found their way back home and into the arms of their anxious families.
The Thursday night attack, carried out by suspected terrorists, threw the community into turmoil.
Initial figures released by the school suggested that 303 pupils and students were herded away in the chaos. But by Sunday, there was at least a glimmer of hope.
Rev. Bulus Yohanna, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State and proprietor of the school, confirmed the heartening development through a statement issued by his media aide, Daniel Atori.
According to him, the 50 pupils managed to escape between Friday and Saturday -- though none returned directly to the school, prompting frantic calls and house-to-house checks that ultimately confirmed their safe arrival.
Yohanna, who also serves as the Catholic Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, explained that the school's primary arm alone has 430 pupils -- 377 of them boarders.
While 50 youngsters have now regained their freedom and 141 others were fortunately never taken, the numbers still paint a worrying picture.
A total of 253 people -- including 236 primary pupils, three staff children, 14 secondary school students and 12 staff members -- remain in captivity.
He urged residents and the wider public to stay calm, prayerful, and hopeful, assuring that the school and the church are working closely with security agencies, community leaders, government authorities and other stakeholders to secure the release of the remaining abductees.
"As much as we receive the return of these 50 children with a sigh of relief, I urge you all to continue in your prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims," he said.
The Bishop also prayed for divine protection over the traumatised community and for the swift freedom of those still held by the attackers.