All 24 abducted schoolgirls from Kebbi, Nigeria, are finally free — but the questions about security still linger.
SOKOTO, Nigeria — A wave of relief swept across Nigeria on Tuesday as President Bola Tinubu confirmed that all 24 schoolgirls kidnapped from a secondary school in Kebbi State last week have been safely rescued. The announcement marks the end of a tense ordeal that gripped the nation and reignited concerns about the growing menace of school kidnappings in the country’s northwest.
According to local authorities, a total of 25 girls were taken on November 17 from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. One girl managed to escape on the same day, while the rest were recovered from their captors.
President Tinubu issued a statement expressing both relief and urgency: “All 24 girls have been safely accounted for. But we must now act swiftly and decisively — deploying more personnel to vulnerable communities to prevent such tragedies from being repeated.” Yet, details of the rescue operation remain undisclosed, sparking speculation about how the government achieved the release.
But here’s where it gets complicated... The Kebbi abduction is part of a broader and deeply troubling trend. Just days before, armed assailants stormed Saint Mary’s Catholic School in Niger State, abducting more than 300 students and staff. Though about 50 students managed to escape over the weekend, the incident underscored how these crimes have become chillingly common across northern Nigeria.
Musa Rabi Magaji, the principal of the predominantly Muslim school in Kebbi, confirmed that the students have been released but are still under official supervision. “We’re thankful they’re safe,” he said, though he couldn’t immediately comment on their health or emotional state.
For families, the news brought both joy and uncertainty. Abdulkarim Abdullahi, whose daughters aged 12 and 13 were among those kidnapped, shared his emotional reaction: “Hearing they’re free is a huge relief. These days have been unbearable for my family. I just want to see them healthy and safe again.” He said authorities informed him the girls were being transported to the state capital, Birnin Kebbi, for medical checks and debriefing.
However, insecurity remains rampant. On the very same day as the Kebbi rescue, police in Kwara State reported that 10 people were abducted from the village of Isapa — only 19 kilometers from Eruku, where 38 churchgoers were kidnapped just last week. Those victims have since regained freedom, according to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
So far, no group has claimed responsibility for these latest incidents. Analysts and local residents, however, suspect loosely organized gangs — often described as “bandits” — who kidnap civilians in exchange for ransom payments. Many of these groups are believed to be made up of former herders who turned to violence after years of deadly conflict with farming communities over land and resources. These clashes have only intensified the cycle of insecurity that grips rural Nigeria.
Over the past decade, school kidnappings have become a grim symbol of Nigeria’s internal security crisis. Since the infamous Chibok schoolgirl abduction in 2014, at least 1,500 students have been seized across various regions — often released later only after large ransom sums were quietly paid. The attacks are not random; schools are often targeted deliberately to draw international attention and pressure the government.
Interestingly, the kidnappings have also stirred global political debate. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently alleged that Christians are being singled out for persecution in Nigeria — a claim disputed by local observers who point out that both Christian and Muslim communities have suffered devastating losses from these attacks. This is where opinions greatly diverge: is the violence driven by religion, economics, or sheer lawlessness?
Arrests of perpetrators remain exceedingly rare, while ransom payments — often made unofficially — continue to fuel the cycle. Each new incident challenges government assurances that things are under control.
Reporters Adetayo (Lagos), Banchereau (Dakar), and Dyepkazah Shibayan (Abuja) contributed to this story.
So what does this rescue really mean? Is Nigeria finally turning the tide against kidnappings, or are these successes just isolated wins in a much bigger fight? Share your thoughts — do you think the government’s response is enough, or do deeper reforms need to happen first?
