Church leaders in Nigeria are warning that kidnapping remains a national crisis, with new research showing more than 200 priests have now been abducted.

The announcement comes as the remaining 130 students and teachers kidnapped from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri were released after being taken on November 21.

At least 212 Catholic priests have been abducted in the past decade, according to research from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria.

Kidnappings have occurred in at least 41 of the country’s 59 Catholic dioceses, with data from some areas still pending submission.

Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has recorded abduction cases in five dioceses not included in the research.

Twelve priests have been murdered, and three later died from injuries sustained during the kidnappings. Four priests remain in captivity.

Dr. Caroline Hull, national director of ACN UK, said: “We warmly welcome the terrific news that the school children have been released – even if at the same time we are shocked by data suggesting priests could be targeted for kidnapping.

“And Nigeria’s bishops have stressed that this new report on kidnapped priests only shows the tip of the iceberg of a much bigger problem – for example, it does not include figures for members of religious orders who were abducted.”

Christian churches, communities, and schools have often been targets of violence from terrorists.

The bishops’ report also warns that Christian communities have been displaced, with more than 90 churches in the Minna diocese forced to close because of repeated attacks.

“As I saw when I visited the country, bandit attacks wreak havoc on the local Christian communities,” Dr. Hull added. “We need to keep our brothers and sisters – and all those affected by the violence in Nigeria – in our prayers.”