‘These are tiny children’ – Irish nun in Nigeria pleads for Irish Government’s help after 315 pupils kidnapped

Sr Mary Barron says a ‘concerted’ effort can locate the missing children, after 50 managed to escape their armed captors

Children’s belongings left behind at the St Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri community in Nigeria. Photo: AP

An Irish nun who heads the religious congregation that runs the African school from which 315 children and staff were kidnapped has begged the Irish Government to pressure Nigeria to put more resources into rescuing them.

Sr Mary Barron said that some of the children seized at gunpoint were of primary-school age.