ABUJA, Nigeria: Fifty of the 303 students kidnapped from a Catholic school in Niger state, Nigeria, have escaped and returned home, school officials said on November 23, as the pope urged the release of those still missing.

The children, aged 10 to 18, escaped one by one on November 22 and 23, according to Bishop Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, head of the Christian Association of Nigeria in the state and owner of the school. He said 253 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity. "We confirmed this after speaking directly with families," he said.

In a separate incident, 38 worshippers abducted during a deadly church attack in nearby Kwara state have been freed, state Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced. Gunmen stormed the Christ Apostolic Church last week, killing two people before taking hostages. President Bola Tinubu credited security agencies for securing the release but gave no details.

Nigeria has faced a surge of violent attacks in recent weeks. On November 22, five police officers were killed and two were injured when gunmen ambushed them in Bauchi state during a response to a farmer-herder dispute, police said.

The mass school abduction happened the same day, when armed men raided St. Mary's School in Papiri village. No group has claimed responsibility, and authorities have released no updates on rescue efforts. It remains unclear how the escaped students managed to return home.

The school sits near a major highway in an area where armed groups routinely operate from surrounding forests.

Yohanna urged continued prayers, saying that while the escape brought relief, many families were still suffering.

At the Vatican, Pope Leo XIV expressed sorrow and called for the "immediate release" of all remaining hostages. "My heart is with the many boys and girls and their anguished families," he said.

School abductions have become common in northern Nigeria as armed gangs target schools for ransom. More than 1,500 students have been kidnapped since the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl abductions, with many released only after payments.

The Niger attack occurred just days after 25 students were kidnapped in nearby Kebbi state. Both states have since closed schools, and the federal government has shut some colleges in high-risk areas.

The kidnappings come as U.S. President Donald Trump has drawn international attention by alleging "Christian persecution" in Nigeria, though recent attacks have targeted both Christian and Muslim communities.

Ransom payments remain frequent, while arrests remain rare. Security analyst Confidence McHarry said the lack of consequences—not outside statements—is driving the violence.

In a statement, President Tinubu said the government will continue working to free every hostage.