The Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles (OLA) have made a further appeal to the Global Community to come to the aid of the 165 learners and staff of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Nigeria, who have been in captivity for the fourth week since their abduction on 21 November.

In a Press Statement, shared with Vatican News, the OLA Sisters say some of the children still in captivity are as young as 5 years old. The tragic incident has caused deep anguish among families, the local community, and the OLA Congregation.

In the early hours of 21 November, an armed gang attacked the school community and forcefully took away 265 children and staff members.

The Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles are the managing agents of St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Nigeria. The school is owned by the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora. The Diocese is part of the Kaduna Ecclesiastical Province.

“It was with great joy we welcomed the news on 14 December that 100 people had been freed: 14 secondary school students, 1 staff member, 80 primary school children and 5 nursery school children. However, this joy is tempered with ongoing anguish and concern for the safety of the remaining 165: – 11 staff members, 35 children from the nursery school and 119 from the Primary School. These children range from age 5 to 12/13. They were abducted from their dormitories during the night and so are not even properly clothed. They are being kept in atrocious conditions in the forest. How much longer must their suffering endure?” says Sr. Mary T. Barron, Congregation Leader of the OLA Sisters.

Sr. Barron explained that the OLA Sisters and many other people around the world continue to implore God’s protection on those in captivity.

“We are most grateful for the immense support we have received to date, and we ask all Religious Congregations, Catholic institutions, faith communities, and people of goodwill around the world to not relent in our efforts to support this community through our fervent prayer,” she said.

She continued, “We appeal also to all those who hold political power and influence to come to the aid of the Federal Government in Nigeria so these innocent children return to their communities immediately. ‘The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing.’ We beg all those who have the power to act, to please do so in the interest of the safety and well-being of all these children,” the OLA Sisters leader said. (Vatican News, excluding headline)

• Only recently, 100 of the kidnapped pupils of St. Mary’s Private School, Papiri, were released by their captors, while 165 remain in captivity