One hundred schoolchildren abducted from a Nigerian Catholic school last month have been released, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria. More than 100 students, along with 12 teachers, remain in captivity following the November 21 attack on St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri. The exact circumstances of the 100 children's release are unclear, and no group has claimed responsibility for the abductions. This incident is part of a recent spate of mass abductions in Nigeria, often attributed to armed gangs seeking ransoms. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has vowed to secure the release of all remaining hostages amid domestic and international pressure.
5 days ago
On November 21, 2025, armed gunmen attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria, abducting 303 schoolchildren aged 10-17 and 12 teachers.1 3 4 Fifty children escaped shortly after the attack, leaving at least 250 initially in captivity.2 The incident is one of the largest school kidnappings in recent Nigerian history, targeting a Catholic institution in the Diocese of Kontagora.3 4
No group claimed responsibility, but locals attribute it to armed gangs seeking ransoms in Nigeria's conflict-ridden north.1 2 The attack caused profound trauma, leading to the deaths of two parents from shock: Anthony Musa, father of three abducted children, and a mother named Esther.4
On December 7, 2025, 100 schoolchildren were freed and transported to Minna, Niger State's capital, in a convoy of buses escorted by military vehicles.1 3 4 They arrived looking relieved but disoriented, dressed in soccer jerseys, robes, and slippers after time in Abuja.1 A government ceremony welcomed them, where officials hugged the children and posed for photos.1
Authorities have not disclosed how the release occurred, including whether ransom was paid—a common but unadmitted practice—or if security operations were involved.1 2 3 Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna of Kontagora confirmed the release, thanking God.4 The children underwent medical evaluations before reunions with families over 300 km away in Papiri.1 3
Approximately 153 students and all 12 teachers remain in captivity as of December 7.3 4 Parents in Papiri learned of the partial release through media, not officials, heightening their anxiety.1 One father, Samuel Musa, expressed worry for his 13-year-old son, noting his wife's illness since the abduction.1
Governor Mohammed Bago urged continued prayers for the captives and promised thorough health checks for the freed children.1 National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu had visited Papiri the previous week, assuring families of imminent returns without specifics.3
President Bola Tinubu praised security agencies for their efforts and reiterated directives for rescuing all abducted Nigerians.1 Governor Umar Bago (noted variably as Mohammed in some reports) received the children and emphasized federal involvement in the release.3 Neighboring Nasarawa State's Governor Abdullahi Sule credited the federal government with a key role.3
Analysts suspect ransoms were paid, as arrests are rare and details scarce in such cases.1 2 The Christian Association of Nigeria confirmed the release via church channels.2
The Papiri attack fits a pattern of mass abductions targeting schools and worship sites in northern and central Nigeria.1 2 3 Four days prior, 25 students were kidnapped from a girls' school in Kebbi State's Maga town; they were later freed.1 3 Around the same time, 38 worshippers were abducted from Christ Apostolic Church in Kwara State and released.1 3
Recent incidents include a pastor, wife, and congregants taken from a church in Kogi State, and a bride with bridesmaids abducted in Sokoto State.3 Violence in central regions like Niger and Plateau often has religious undertones, while northwestern areas like Sokoto see ethnic conflicts.4 Christian Solidarity Worldwide described Nigeria's crisis as multifaceted, terrorizing citizens with non-state actors.4
U.S. President Donald Trump pressured Tinubu over alleged targeting of Christians, threatening intervention.1 2 3 U.S. Rep. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia, who visited Nigeria and introduced a resolution on Christian persecution, hailed the release as progress and urged steps to dismantle terrorist groups.4
Christian Solidarity Worldwide welcomed the freedom of the 100 children but demanded urgent protection, trauma support, and international aid to resolve the crisis.4 The group called for decisive action to free all captives, including the remaining students and staff.4
Investigate Catholic Church’s role in protecting Nigerian children
The Catholic Church has long played a vital role in safeguarding the dignity and safety of children worldwide, with particular emphasis in regions like Nigeria where violence, exploitation, and social fragility pose severe threats. Drawing from papal teachings, episcopal statements, and ecclesial initiatives, the Church in Nigeria and its global partners advocate for peace, justice, and prevention of abuse, leveraging education, interfaith dialogue, and grassroots networks to shield vulnerable youth from harm. This role is rooted in the Gospel's call to protect the innocent, as seen in repeated appeals from popes and bishops to end attacks on communities, combat child exploitation, and build safe environments. In Nigeria, where rural Christian areas face relentless violence and broader societal challenges exacerbate risks to children, the Church acts as both a spiritual guide and a practical partner in fostering security and human development.
The Church's engagement with child protection in Nigeria traces back to foundational papal interventions that highlighted the continent's unique vulnerabilities. During his 1998 apostolic journey to Nigeria, Pope John Paul II directly addressed the bishops, urging them to prioritize the evangelization of families and the protection of youth from societal ills. He emphasized that young people, as the future of the Church and nation, must receive assistance in overcoming obstacles like illiteracy, unemployment, and drugs, while specifically calling for safeguards against "unscrupulous exploitation" that forces Nigerian girls and young women into "degrading forms of slavery with tragic and devastating consequences." This vision extended to all African children, whom he described as needing protection from being "mercilessly abducted, abused, enslaved or killed," advocating for a world where no child is deprived of peace, security, or a stable family life.
These exhortations were not abstract; they reflected Nigeria's realities at the time, including ethnic tensions and economic hardships that left children as innocent victims. Pope John Paul II's words underscored the Church's pastoral responsibility to inculturate the Gospel through family support and youth formation, ensuring that marriage and family life become pathways to holiness rather than sources of vulnerability. By empowering lay apostolates and catechists, the Nigerian Church was positioned as a frontline defender, fostering personal maturity and self-gift among the young to counter exploitative forces. This historical framework set a precedent for ongoing ecclesial action, blending spiritual formation with social advocacy to create resilient communities.
In more contemporary contexts, the Church has intensified its role through solidarity and diplomatic efforts, particularly in response to escalating violence in Nigeria. Following a wave of killings in Benue State and other regions in 2025, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) expressed "profound sadness and steadfast ecclesial solidarity" with the Nigerian bishops, joining in prayers for peace, justice, and reconciliation across faiths. The letter echoed Pope Leo XIV's specific prayers for "security, justice, and peace" in Nigeria, focusing on the "unceasingly... victims of violence" in rural Christian communities, many of which include families and children displaced or traumatized by attacks. This act of ecclesial communion highlights the Church's global network in amplifying local cries for an end to "relentless attacks on innocent and defenceless communities," urging governmental action while committing to fervent prayer initiatives, such as the nine days declared by Nigerian bishops.
Earlier, in 2024, the USCCB urged U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to engage proactively with Nigeria's fragility, positioning the Catholic Church as a key solution-builder. The Church's assets— including Veritas University, national and diocesan Justice and Peace commissions, and networks of clergy and lay leaders—were presented as tools to empower civil society against violence and extremism. As a "trusted interfaith partner among Muslim communities," the Church offers credibility to influence government at the highest levels, preventing the Sahel region's instability from worsening Nigeria's crisis. This advocacy implicitly protects children by addressing root causes like extremism and governmental shortcomings, ensuring that ecclesial efforts channel resources toward safe environments where youth can thrive without fear of abduction or harm. Such partnerships underscore the Church's prophetic voice, ready to collaborate with international actors for Nigeria's most populous and vulnerable demographics.
Beyond violence, the Church addresses child exploitation, a pervasive issue in Nigeria amplified by poverty and trafficking. Pope Francis, in his 2025 General Audience, decried the "social injustice" that divides children into those who dream and those who "must succumb," calling for an end to exploitation where youth become "sacrificial victims" or even "executioners" of peers. He highlighted global horrors like organ trafficking—citing the case of a boy named Loan—and urged recognition of children's rights, fighting abuse to build a better society. While not Nigeria-specific, this teaching applies directly to the country's challenges, where children in disadvantaged families face abduction, forced labor, or worse, aligning with the Church's universal mandate to listen to the "voiceless" and protect the "little ones" with Christ's tenderness.
Under Pope Leo XIV, this commitment has evolved into structured safeguarding. In his 2025 message to a meeting on "Building Communities that Safeguard Dignity," he praised efforts to prevent all forms of abuse and share experiences in protecting minors, fostering communities of "trust and dialogue" where justice meets mercy. He encouraged collaboration with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors to cultivate a "culture of protection" across the Church. Similarly, Pope Francis's 2025 message to the Commission's plenary stressed that safeguarding is foundational to Gospel fidelity, involving education, prevention, and compassionate listening to survivors in the style of the Good Samaritan. Commitments include closer ties with Roman Curia dicasteries, partnerships with civil authorities, and treating testimonies as opportunities for mercy rather than mere records.
Pope Leo XIV reinforced this in his 2025 address to Italian bishops, recommending a "culture of prevention of all forms of abuse" with attention to the "smallest and most vulnerable." Welcoming victims marks a Church in conversion, healing wounds where "pain is deep" through stronger communal hope. In Nigeria, these principles manifest through local commissions and interfaith work, protecting children from exploitation as outlined by Pope John Paul II, ensuring ecclesial spaces become "safe environments" even in remote areas.
The Nigerian Church's protection efforts are deeply embedded in its institutional presence. Through entities like Justice and Peace commissions and educational institutions, it empowers communities to address child vulnerabilities holistically. This includes evangelizing families to safeguard marriage as a "normal path of holiness" and mobilizing youth as peer evangelizers to build resilience against idleness and drugs. Interfaith solidarity, vital in Nigeria's diverse landscape, promotes fraternal harmony to prevent faith-based violence that endangers children. By partnering with Muslim communities and international bodies, the Church extends its reach, turning potential conflict zones into spaces of shared protection.
The Catholic Church's role in protecting Nigerian children is multifaceted: from papal condemnations of violence and exploitation to episcopal advocacy and global safeguarding protocols. Rooted in Christ's love for the vulnerable, it calls for prayer, policy, and partnerships to end attacks on innocents, combat trafficking, and foster merciful communities. As Pope John Paul II envisioned, and Popes Francis and Leo XIV have advanced, the Church in Nigeria stands as a beacon of hope, urging all to build a nation where children grow in peace and dignity. Continued commitment to these efforts will transform wounds into grace, honoring the Gospel's promise of freedom for all.