CAN releases names of 50 abducted Niger pupils who escaped [FULL LIST]

Fifty pupils abducted from St. Mary Private Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State have reportedly escaped from their captors and reunited with their parents.

The confirmation came on Sunday from the Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Bishop of the Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, through a statement issued by his media aide, Daniel Atori.

“This is to notify the public that as of Sunday, 23rd November 2025, we received some good news as fifty (50) pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents,” the statement read.

According to the update, the school still has 236 pupils in captivity, including three children of staff members and 14 secondary school students, bringing the total number of remaining victims to 253 children and 12 staff members.

Yohanna urged the public to continue praying for the safe release of those still held.

“As much as we receive the return of these 50 children with some sigh of relief, I urge everyone to continue in prayers for the rescue and safe return of the remaining victims,” he said.

A separate document signed by the Diocesan Secretary, Rev. Fr. Jatau Joseph, contains the full list of the 50 pupils who have returned home:

Samson Bitrus
Emmanuel Francis

Amos Mathew

Timothy Peter

Ayuba Victor

Bulus Emmanuel

Bulus Samaila

Caleb Hosea

Catherine Emmanuel

Christopher Ezekiel

Dominic Daniel

Dominic Elisha

Elisha Harunna

Elisha Yakubu

Ezekiel Emmanuel

Ezekiel Joel

Ezekiel Pius

Ezra James

Friday Joel

Gloria Jeremiah

Godiya Mathew

Iliya Philip

Ishaya David

Joseph Sunday

Julius Paul

Justina Adamu

Keziah Musa

Lawrence James

Lawrence Yohanna

Marcus Bulus

Mariam Joshua

Mathew Dauda

Micah Luka

Michael Jacob

Musa Timothy

Naomi Bulus

Nicodemus Ibrahim

Peter Jonathan

Pricillia Peter

Emmanuel Godwin

Samaila Dauda

Stephen Anthony

Sunday Shedrack

Veronica Iliya

Victoria Ishaku

Vincent Emmanuel

Wisdom Fabian

Yakubu Saminu

Yunusa Musa

Yusuf Sunday

The incident that led to the abduction of 303 pupils and staff prompted the state government to close schools across Niger State on Saturday as a precautionary measure.

Report