Vatican City: Pope Leo emphasised the severity of the recent kidnapping of children and staff from a Catholic school in Nigeria, describing it as one of the worst mass kidnappings ever recorded there, to raise awareness and concern among the public.
Gunmen in Nigeria kidnapped students and teachers from St. Mary’s school in the northwest of the country on Friday, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said, the latest in a spate of school attacks this week that has forced the government to shut 47 colleges.
CAN stated on Saturday that it had increased its estimate of those taken from the school to 315, up from an earlier figure of 227, following a thorough verification process.
“I was deeply saddened to learn of the kidnappings of priests, faithful, and students in Nigeria and Cameroon. I feel great pain, especially for the many young men and women who have been abducted and for their anguished families,” Pope Leo said at the end of a mass in St. Peter’s Square.
“I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages and urge the relevant authorities to act swiftly and decisively to secure their freedom,” he emphasised.
“Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope.”
“However, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu disclosed that 51 of the missing students from the Catholic School in Niger State have been recovered, saying, “I am equally happy that 51 of the missing students have been recovered.
