Nigerian state police say more children abducted last month from a Catholic school in Niger state have been released, adding to a partial liberation earlier in December but leaving key details unclear.
Sister Mary T. Barron, the superior general of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, which manages St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary schools in Papiri, said she learned of the development in the evening. She said details were not immediately clear and that more information was expected in the morning.
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The school in Papiri, in central Nigeria’s Niger state, was attacked in the early hours of Nov. 21 when an armed gang stormed the compound and seized 265 children and staff members, according to church officials. The victims included nursery, primary and secondary school students as well as school employees.
Earlier this month, 100 people were freed on Dec. 14, Vatican News reported. That group included 14 secondary school students, one staff member, 80 primary school children and five nursery school children. Appeals from church leaders and community members continued for the release of the remaining 165 people, including 11 staff members, 35 nursery school children and 119 from the primary school, before Monday’s latest development.
The children range in age from five to 13, according to church officials.
Police did not immediately provide the number of newly released captives or say whether any staff members were among them. It was not clear late Monday how many people remain in captivity following the latest release.
The Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles administer the Papiri schools and have coordinated with local authorities and community leaders since the abduction. Sister Barron said further information would be shared once authorities and church representatives received confirmed updates.
Vatican News’ accounting of the Dec. 14 release provided the most detailed breakdown to date of those freed and those still held at the time. Monday’s reports from state police and church officials suggest that number has now changed, though specifics were not available.
Additional reporting: Reuters
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
