Abuja, November 26, 2025 – In a week marked by both relief and renewed outrage, Nigerian authorities announced the safe release of 24 schoolgirls abducted from a government boarding school in Kebbi State last week, following a similar rescue of 38 worshippers earlier this month in Kwara State. These developments come amid a troubling surge in mass kidnappings targeting educational institutions and places of worship, prompting sharp criticism from religious leaders, labor unions, and the international community. President Bola Tinubu hailed the operations as triumphs of “precision intelligence,” but public discourse continues to grapple with unconfirmed reports of negotiations or ransoms, while calls for accountability intensify.
Key Updates: Releases Amid Lingering Doubts
The 24 girls, aged between 12 and 15, were freed on Tuesday, November 25, after being seized on November 17 from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The attack, which occurred shortly after a military detachment departed the premises, also claimed the life of the school’s vice principal, who was shot dead during the raid. One girl escaped unaided on the day of the abduction, reducing the number held to 24. School principal Musa Rabi Magaji confirmed that the girls, all Muslim students from a primarily Muslim institution, were in the custody of authorities undergoing medical checks and debriefing before reuniting with families in the state capital, Birnin Kebbi.
President Tinubu, in a statement released via his media aide, expressed profound relief, stating, “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.” He commended the security agencies for their “precision intelligence” in executing the rescue without reported casualties among the victims. However, details on the operation remain sparse, fueling speculation on social media and among analysts about the potential involvement of ransoms or backchannel negotiations. Videos circulating online, purportedly showing the bandits questioning the girls about their treatment—confirming they were neither harmed, sexually assaulted, nor starved—have amplified debates, with some users contrasting the captors’ apparent restraint against perceived government shortcomings.
This release echoes the earlier liberation on November 23 of 38 worshippers—mostly women and children—from the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Oke Isegun in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. The victims were abducted on November 19 during a midweek prayer service, in an assault that killed three people, including two worshippers and a security guard. Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq received the traumatized group upon their return, crediting a joint operation involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, Department of State Services, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, and Police. Tinubu also confirmed this rescue, noting he had canceled his attendance at the G20 Summit in South Africa to oversee national security coordination.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, welcomed the outcomes but issued a stern warning against any form of engagement with criminals. In a public statement, he advocated for “stringent penalties on officials who negotiate with kidnappers,” emphasizing that such actions undermine state authority and embolden perpetrators. Kalu urged a comprehensive review of intelligence protocols to prevent future lapses, such as the Kebbi school’s inadequate protection despite prior warnings.
Broader Context: A Wave of Abductions and Institutional Backlash
These incidents represent the third major school-related abduction in recent weeks, underscoring a disturbing escalation in banditry across Nigeria’s North-West and North-Central regions. On November 21, gunmen raided St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting 303 students—ranging in age from nursery-level children as young as five to teenagers up to 18—and 12 teachers. Initial reports cited 215 students, but a verification by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) revised the figure upward, noting that over 80 additional pupils were captured while attempting to flee. School officials reported that 50 students, aged 10 to 18, managed to escape individually between Friday and Saturday, leaving 253 students and 12 teachers still in captivity as of November 26. No group has claimed responsibility, and no ransom demands have been publicly confirmed, though authorities have deployed tactical squads and local hunters to comb nearby forests.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria issued a scathing communique condemning the “delayed and inadequate” security responses, which they argue have fostered “perceptions of collusion” between authorities and criminals. The bishops highlighted the Papiri attack’s defiance of a state-wide closure order for boarding schools, issued after intelligence warnings of heightened threats. They called for an independent probe into systemic failures, including the non-implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration—a 2015 international pact Nigeria endorsed to shield education from conflict.
Compounding the crisis, the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has placed its over 1 million members on high alert, threatening an indefinite nationwide strike if attacks persist. NUT President Titus Amba-Audu described the assaults as “barbaric and unacceptable,” a “direct assault on the foundation of education” that endangers teachers, staff, and millions of learners. He cited the decade-long pattern of abductions—from the 2014 Chibok incident involving 276 girls to recent events—forcing school closures in vulnerable districts and “mortgaging the future of our children.” Amba-Audu accused the federal and state governments of failing to operationalize protective policies, warning, “If this ugly trend continues, the NUT will direct all teachers to down tools and sit at home until their security is guaranteed.” The union expressed solidarity with victims’ families, urging immediate action to secure schools and hold perpetrators accountable.
Government Response: Aerial Surveillance, Suspensions, and Heightened Measures
In a bid to reclaim the initiative, President Tinubu has escalated federal interventions. He ordered the Nigerian Air Force to conduct 24-hour aerial surveillance over forests in Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States, directing expanded reconnaissance into the “deepest parts” where bandits are believed to hide. The operation mandates coordination with ground troops for real-time rescues, applying an “all-out, no-retreat posture” until all captives are freed and threats neutralized. Tinubu emphasized, “Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety,” and vowed not to relent in the fight against insecurity.
Closer to the capital, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) faced its own scare when an unauthorized memo—signed by Director of School Services Aishatu Sani Alhassan—circulated claiming an early closure of all senior secondary schools by November 28 due to threats. FCT Minister Nyesom Wike swiftly debunked the rumor as “false, misleading, and entirely unfounded,” confirming no such directive existed and the academic calendar remains intact. In response, Wike suspended Mandate Secretary for Education Dr. Danlami Hayyo, who disavowed knowledge of the circular, and instructed Acting Head of Service Nancy Sabanti Nathan to discipline Alhassan per civil service rules. To bolster confidence, Wike reactivated “Operation Sweep,” a multi-agency security initiative involving police, civil defense, and military patrols to enhance vigilance around schools and communities in Abuja. The FCTA assured parents and students of sustained protections, urging reliance on official channels amid the national anxiety.
Trending on X: Public Fury and Global Echoes
Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), have erupted with the hashtags #KebbiSchoolgirls and #BringBackOurChildren—revived from the 2014 Chibok campaign—trending nationwide and garnering millions of impressions. Users shared emotional videos of the Kebbi girls’ handover, debating “rescue vs. ransom” in threads criticizing the absence of arrests or prosecutions. One viral post by activist Lauretta Onochie questioned government transparency, noting the bandits’ on-camera assurances of the girls’ safety before their release, while others like @Yusen0x celebrated the reunions with photos of joyful family embraces. Broader discussions invoked #SecureTheNorth and #BringBackOurGirls, with parents like those in Niger pleading for urgent interventions. Sentiment analysis shows a mix of relief (45%), anger over delays (30%), and demands for systemic reform (25%), with calls for community intelligence-sharing to aid rescues.
The international community has weighed in forcefully. The United Nations, through Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed—a Nigerian—condemned the abductions as “heartbreaking,” insisting “schools should be sanctuaries for education, not targets.” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric echoed this, urging Nigeria to fully implement the Safe Schools Declaration and hold perpetrators accountable under international law. UNESCO’s Nigeria office similarly decried the attacks, pledging support for resilience-building in education systems, particularly for girls in high-risk areas. UNICEF, focusing on the Kebbi incident, extended condolences for the slain vice principal and called for child protections aligned with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Nigeria ratified in 1991.
As Nigeria grapples with this shadow over its classrooms, the releases offer glimmers of hope, but the unresolved Niger abductions serve as stark reminders of unfinished battles. With unions poised to act and forests under aerial watch, the coming days will test the resolve of leaders to transform words into unbreakable shields for the nation’s youth.
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Escalating School Abductions and Releases Amid Security Crackdown
