All Abducted Schoolgirls Accounted For in Nigeria
In a significant development for Nigeria's ongoing security crisis, President Bola Tinubu has announced the successful rescue of all 24 schoolgirls held by assailants following a mass abduction last week. The girls were taken from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi state's Maga town on November 17, 2025.
Details of the Abduction and Rescue
Originally, 25 girls were abducted during the raid, but one managed to escape on the same day, according to the school's principal, Musa Rabi Magaji. The remaining 24 have now all been rescued, though authorities have released no specific details about the operation that secured their freedom.
President Tinubu expressed relief in an official statement, saying: "I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for. Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping."
Musa Rabi Magaji, principal of the primarily Muslim school, confirmed to The Associated Press that while all girls had been released, they remained in official custody for their safety and assessment. Parents like Abdulkarim Abdullahi, whose two daughters aged 12 and 13 were among those taken, received news that the girls were being transported to the state capital, Birnin Kebbi.
"I am excited to receive the news of their freedom," Abdullahi stated during a telephone interview. "The past few days have been difficult for me and my family, especially their mother. I will wait to see from the government about their wellbeing, but I can't wait to see them in good health."
Pattern of Mass Abductions Continues
This incident forms part of a disturbing pattern of mass abductions plaguing Nigeria. Just days after the Kebbi kidnapping, more than 300 students and staff were abducted from the Saint Mary's School in north-central Niger state during a raid on Friday. While approximately 50 students managed to escape over the weekend, the majority remain missing.
In a separate but related development, 38 worshippers kidnapped during a deadly church attack in central Nigeria's Kwara state have regained their freedom, according to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The attack on the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku town on November 18 resulted in two fatalities before the hostages were taken.
No group has claimed responsibility for these recent abductions, but security analysts and local sources attribute them to criminal gangs often described as "bandits." These groups frequently target schools, travelers, and remote villagers for ransom payments, using kidnapping as both a revenue stream and a method to dominate areas with limited government security presence.
Authorities identify many of these bandits as former herders who have taken up arms against farming communities following clashes over increasingly strained natural resources.
School Abductions Define National Insecurity
School kidnappings have become a defining feature of insecurity in Africa's most populous nation. Armed gangs increasingly view educational institutions as strategic targets that guarantee maximum attention and leverage for ransom negotiations.
Since the infamous Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping over a decade ago, at least 1,500 students have been seized across Nigeria. Many children have only been released after substantial ransom payments were made, creating a vicious cycle that fuels further criminal activity.
The crisis unfolds against a complex backdrop where arrests remain rare and ransom payments have become commonplace in many northern Nigerian hotspots. These incidents affect both Christian and Muslim communities, despite some international claims focusing exclusively on religious persecution.
As Nigeria grapples with this ongoing security emergency, the successful rescue in Kebbi offers temporary relief while highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms to protect the nation's most vulnerable citizens.
