In a significant relief to their families and communities, 24 schoolgirls abducted from a school in Maga, Kebbi State, have regained their freedom. The girls were taken at dawn on November 17, shortly after a military detachment had left the school premises, sparking national concern over the growing spate of school kidnappings across Nigeria.
President Bola Tinubu, in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, expressed his relief at the safe return of the students. He highlighted that their release comes amid a wave of similar abductions in other parts of the country, including Eruku in Kwara State, where all 38 abductees were freed recently, and in Niger State, where 50 students of a Catholic school have also been reunited with their families.
Commending the efforts of security agencies, President Tinubu urged intensified operations to ensure that any remaining victims are rescued promptly. “I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for. Now, we must urgently deploy more boots on the ground in vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping. My government will offer all the assistance needed to achieve this,” he said.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting students and other vulnerable communities from terrorist attacks. Authorities have promised continued support for security operations across affected regions, signaling a proactive approach to safeguarding education and community safety in Nigeria.