Pope Francis has kicked against the abduction of more than 300 students ofGovernment Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State.
The Pope described the abduction of the schoolgirls as “vile” in a post via his official Twitter handle on Sunday.
He said he was praying for the safety of the girls, so they can return home soon.
“I join my voice to that of the Bishops of Nigeria to condemn the vile kidnapping of the 317 girls, taken away from their school in Jangebe. I am praying for these girls so they might return home soon. I am near to their families,” Pope wrote.
Gunmen had invaded the Jangebe community on Friday, attacked some houses along their way, and raided the school where they abducted 310 students, but seven escaped.
The girls have now been in captivity for three days, and efforts to secure their release are ongoing.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) had also condemned the kidnapping on Friday, calling it a gross violation of children’s rights.
The Jangebe attack came barely two weeks after 27 students and some staffers of Government Science College (GSC), Kagara in Niger State were abducted by bandits, though they had been released.
