Yohanna announced that the students managed to escape between Friday and Saturday.

The attacks, characterized by their randomness, follow a disturbing pattern. Armed groups, known regionally as bandits, arrive at the scene, fire shots to incite fear, kidnap individuals, and then retreat into the surrounding forests.

Authorities reported that the assailants have demanded a ransom of 100 million naira (approximately AUD $107,000) for each abducted person.

“Regrettably, my children were not among those who escaped,” Ibrahim, a father of a six-year-old, shared with Reuters over the phone. “Currently, many parents and relatives are anxiously searching around the school premises.”

“Unfortunately, they were not among the escapees,” Ibrahim, whose youngest child is six years old, told Reuters by phone. “As of now, many parents and their loved ones are roaming around the school.”