Fifty pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, have escaped from captivity and reunited with their families, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) confirmed on Sunday.

The pupils, taken during a midnight attack on the school last week, were said to have regained their freedom between Friday and Saturday but did not immediately return to the school premises.

Speaking on the development, the Niger State CAN chairman and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, said the school administration verified the escape after contacting parents.

According to him, the children found their way home on their own, prompting school officials to embark on verification visits to confirm their safe return.

Yohanna explained that the pupils, frightened and disoriented after fleeing through the night, headed straight to their homes instead of returning to the school compound.

Here is full list of the 50 pupils who escaped:

Samson Bitrus

Emmanuel Francis

Amos Mathew

Timothy Peter

Ayuba Victor

Bulus Emmanuel

Bulus Samaila

Caleb Hossa

Catherine Emmanuel

Christopher Ezekiel

Dominic Daniel

Dominic Elisha

Elisha Haruna

Ezekiel Yakubu

Ezekiel Emmanuel

Ezekiel Samuel

Ezekiel Plus

Ezra James

Femi Peter

Gloria Jeremiah

Godiya Mathew

Ibiya

Ishaaya David

Joseph Sunday

Julius Paul

Justina Adamu

Keziah Musa

Lawrence James

Lawrence Yohanna

Marcus Bulus

Mariam Joshua

Mathew Dauda

Micah Luka

Michael Jacob

Musa Timothy

Naomi Bulus

Nicodemus Ibrahim

Peter Jonathan

Priscilla Peter

Emmanuel Godwin

Samaila Dauda

Stephen Andrew

Sunday Shadrach

Victoria David

Victoria Ishaku

Vincent Emmanuel

Yahaya Sani

Yakubu Saminu

Yunusa Musa

Yusuf Sunday