While there was joy as 100 abducted Nigerian schoolchildren reunited with their families, the relief has been overshadowed by growing fear for the 150 pupils and staff who remain in captivity.
The mass kidnapping happened on 21 November when armed men stormed St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, northern Nigeria, seizing more than 300 students and staff. It occurred just days after 25 other children were abducted in neighbouring Kebbi state, adding to the wave of school attacks in the region.
Authorities have released very little information about the whereabouts, condition, or safety of the missing students and staff. The silence has left families living in endless anxiety, unsure whether their children are receiving food, shelter, or any form of protection.
According to Associated Press (AP), around 50 students managed to escape shortly after the attack.However, the fate of the remaining 150 is still unknown.
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, deepening the uncertainty around negotiations or rescue efforts. For many families, each day without news feels like a lifetime.
Luka Illaya, a parent, expressed mixed emotions when one of his sons returned home while the other remains captive.“It has not been easy for me,” he said. “Today, I feel a little relief because one of my children is back. I am happy for the one I have gotten.”
Reverend Sister Felicia Gyang, principal of the school, thanked security agencies for the successful rescue but pleaded for continued strength and action to bring back those still in captivity.
Security experts warn that children are frequent targets because armed groups believe they can extract high ransoms from communities or government officials. The continued disappearance of such a large number of students has sparked national and international concern.
Pope Francis, addressing the Vatican last month, called for the immediate release of the remaining Papiri students, urging global attention to the crisis.
For the families of the unreleased 150, each passing day brings more fear and an urgent plea for answers and action.
