Irish authorities have been called upon to engage diplomatic efforts regarding the release of school children abducted from a Catholic School in Nigeria.
The Association of Leaders of Missionaries and Religious of Ireland (AMRI) have written to the Nigerian Ambassador Ibiyemi Ajiboye-Roberts and the Department of Foreign Affairs requesting support for the immediate release of all children and teachers kidnapped from St Mary's Catholic School in Niger State last month.
A total of 303 students and 12 teachers were reported to have been taken from the school in the Papiri community in the early hours of 21 November.
Almost a week later, there were further reports that 50 children had managed to escape and return to their families, but that 265 remained missing.
AMRI is the representative and support organisation for the leaders of 155 Catholic religious institutes, societies of apostolic life and missionary organisations.
It includes members of religious congregations, orders and societies ministering in Nigeria.
The association has appealed to the Nigerian government to ensure the safety and security of all school students in areas prone to conflict in Nigeria.
Considering many years of collaboration and support between Nigeria and Ireland through its missionary presence, it said there was "a particular affiliation and concern for those on mission in the country" and the people of Nigeria.
Over a week ago, the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles which is a member of AMRI welcomed news that a number of the abducted children had been released.
However, they said their hearts remained with the families in Papiri and all who continued to wait for news of their children.
In November, Congregational Leader Sr Mary T Barron, who is from Donegal, appealed to the Irish Government to use every diplomatic channel available to support efforts to locate and safely return the children and staff who were taken.
Kidnapping has become a recurring issue in many parts of Nigeria.
In late 2025, President Bola Tinubu declared the crisis a national security emergency and pledged to boost security in remote areas.
However, human rights groups say the true scale of abductions is hidden by widespread underreporting.
