Twenty-four schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, on November 17, have regained their freedom after seven days in captivity. The abduction, which occurred at dawn, sparked widespread concern across Nigeria and highlighted ongoing threats to school safety in the northern region.

The incident unfolded moments after a military detachment reportedly left the school premises. During the attack, bandits killed a staff member and injured a security guard before seizing the female students. The successful rescue operation, which saw all 24 girls accounted for, brought immense relief to their families and the wider community who had endured days of fear and uncertainty.

President Bola Tinubu welcomed the release of the schoolgirls, commending the security agencies for their efforts. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga quoted President Tinubu as 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. My government will offer all the assistance needed to achieve this.”

The release of the schoolgirls was attributed to a non-kinetic intervention spearheaded by the Federal Government. This approach, centered on dialogue, negotiation, and other peaceful measures, involved close collaboration between the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), who worked behind the scenes to secure the girls’ freedom without resorting to force. This strategy reflects a continuing shift in the government’s approach to addressing mass abductions, a persistent issue in the northern region.

Following the abduction, Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris demanded a full military investigation to identify and hold accountable the commander allegedly responsible for the withdrawal of soldiers from the school before the attack, describing the incident as an act of “clear sabotage.” The military confirmed that the matter is currently under investigation. Furthermore, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, visited Kebbi State, vowing to defeat bandits and kidnappers and restore peace to the troubled state.

The Kebbi incident triggered similar abductions across the country, underscoring the pervasive nature of insecurity. In Eruku, Kwara State, 38 worshippers abducted from Christ Apostolic Church Oke Isegun were freed on Sunday after a joint security operation. Simultaneously, an attack on St. Mary’s Papiri Private Catholic Secondary School in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State on November 21 saw students and teachers seized. The Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) reported that 50 out of over 300 students abducted from a Catholic school in the state had either escaped or been found in their parents’ homes.

Mass kidnappings in Nigerian schools have been a disturbing trend since the 2014 Chibok incident, leading to several states, including Kaduna, Zamfara, Katsina, and Niger, closing schools in high-risk locations. A 2023 report by Save the Children indicated that more than 1,680 students and teachers have been kidnapped from schools across Nigeria since 2014, predominantly in northern states. Authorities are expected to initiate rehabilitation and reintegration processes for the rescued students as investigations into the abduction continue, with President Tinubu urging intensified operations to free any remaining students still in captivity.