On Monday, 8 December 2025, the Nigerian government announced that 100 of the 239 students kidnapped in November from St. Mary’s School in Niger State in northwest Nigeria, have been rescued.
On Friday, 21 November 2025, more than 300 children and 12 teachers were taken from St. Mary’s School in Niger State. The majority of the students consist of nursery and primary classes. Over the weekend of 22 to 23 November, 50 girls managed to escape.
The Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Reverend Bulus Yohanna, and proprietor of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Papiri in Agwara LGA of Niger State, confirmed the release of 100 children.
According to our local Open Doors’ Field contacts, the full list of names of those rescued have not yet been released, and it’s unclear if among the 100, there are any of the 12 teachers who were also taken.
While it is unclear whether the children were rescued or freed after a ransom was paid, some Field reports state that Bishop Yohanna was in meetings with the National Security Adviser to the President, Nuhu Ribadu, where it was communicated that the students would be released in batches.
Many parents have expressed their distress at the lack of information received from authorities. The kidnapping and ongoing insecurity in northern Nigeria has been immensely stressful for those directly affected, as well as Christians in the north in general.
Open Doors’ Field sources have shared that one father, whose three daughters are among those taken from St. Mary’s, died from a heart attack on Monday, 24 November.
“Everybody seems to be worried, people are angry, everybody is disturbed,” a senior church leader told Open Doors partners. “Within seven days, children were taken away from Kebbi. Then, we moved to the kidnapping, and the gun attack in Kwara, and then, the kidnapping of children in Niger. When you put all this together, you know it’s been a traumatic week for parents, leaders, and our security men.”
Field Statement
“We thank God for the safe return of 100 children and the government’s efforts in this,” shares Jo Newhouse*, Open Doors’ spokesperson for the work in Sub-Saharan Africa. “We continue to pray and trust that all the children and staff will be safely returned home before Christmas.”
“However, more must be done to secure the release of all Nigerians who have been kidnapped. Leah Sharibu and so many Chibok girls have remained in captivity for years, and their parents have received no news about any efforts to bring them home. Many of these parents have reportedly developed health problems because the stress. Continue to pray for Leah, the Chibok girls, and thousands of others whose names do not reach the news.”
Please pray:
- Pray for those who have returned home. Pray God heals them from the trauma they’ve experienced. Pray for wisdom and guidance for the parents and loved ones supporting the victims.
- Pray for the safe release and return of the remaining children and staff who have been kidnapped. Pray for the families who await updates on the livelihood of their loved ones, as well as their return.
- Pray for other kidnapped Nigerians, like Leah Sharibu and the many Chibok girls, who remain in captivity years after having been kidnapped. Pray for their health, their protection, their families, and that they experience God’s presence, even in their captivity.
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