In a moment of national relief, all 24 schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Kebbi State last week have been safely released, President Bola Tinubu announced on Tuesday.
The students, kidnapped amid rising bandit attacks in the region, returned home unharmed. Yet uncertainty persists over what truly led to their freedom.
The abduction took place on November 17 at Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.
Armed attackers stormed the school shortly after a military team withdrew, killing the vice principal and injuring a security guard before escaping with 25 students. One student fled during the chaos, leaving 24 in captivity for more than a week.
Government Celebrates Rescue, But Questions Linger
President Tinubu praised the release as the result of a swift and coordinated operation by security agencies, led by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
Through his Special Adviser, Bayo Onanuga, the president expressed deep relief, saying, “I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for.” He ordered intensified efforts to rescue other captives across the country and promised to deploy more troops to rural communities vulnerable to attacks.
Matawalle, acting on Tinubu’s instructions, relocated to Kebbi to oversee the operation and later confirmed that a tactical team successfully secured the girls’ freedom.
The federal government also pointed to non-kinetic strategies, including coordination between the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services, as part of the process, though specific details were withheld for operational reasons.
The situation sparked a series of similar incidents. In Eruku, Kwara State, gunmen kidnapped 38 worshippers from a church vigil on November 20; all were later freed after security pressure.
In Niger State, more than 300 pupils and teachers were taken from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, though 50 of the missing children were later found at home, indicating some may have fled during the attack rather than being captured.
As insecurity escalated, Tinubu ordered the Nigerian Air Force to begin continuous aerial surveillance over forested zones in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states, with ground troops receiving real-time intelligence.
Communities were urged to promptly report suspicious movements. Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris demanded a full military investigation into why troops withdrew shortly before the attack, describing it as “clear sabotage.”
Bandit Video Sparks Public Outrage and Doubts Over Rescue Claims
Amid nationwide celebration, a disturbing propaganda video released by the kidnappers raised doubts about the official account. In the video, a gunman questions the girls about any overhead military jets which none were reported and boasts that authorities were unable to rescue them by force.
He claims their release came through negotiations with “leaders,” adding, “Your government has failed,” before permitting the girls to leave. The students said they were not mistreated, starved, or assaulted during captivity.
The footage supported local reports suggesting a negotiated release rather than a tactical rescue, intensifying public debate over the government’s approach to dealing with bandit groups. Critics argue that negotiations may empower criminal networks and encourage further abductions.
Human rights advocates and northern leaders renewed demands for better school security, warning that banditry in the North-West continues to uproot communities and weaken confidence in state protection.
Analysts note that while the girls’ safe return is a relief, the circumstances raise urgent questions about long-term solutions to insecurity.
As investigations continue, the Tinubu administration faces growing pressure to clarify what happened and to develop stronger strategies against the armed groups exploiting Nigeria’s remote regions.
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