Pope Leo has urged the immediate release of pupils and staff taken by armed men from a Catholic school in north-west Nigeria.

The attackers raided St Mary’s School on Friday, abducting children and teachers in what has become another grim addition to a series of school attacks in the area this week.

The rise in kidnappings has pushed authorities to shut 47 schools as a safety measure, as communities grapple with worsening insecurity.

The Christian Association of Nigeria has also updated the number of people taken from the school, saying its verification checks show over 300 children and staff are missing, higher than the earlier figure of 227.

Church officials and community leaders have appealed to security forces to act swiftly, as families wait anxiously for news of their loved ones.

–ChannelAfrica–