Twenty-four schoolgirls, abducted from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, have regained their freedom following an eight-day ordeal. The students were initially kidnapped in the early hours of Monday, November 17, when armed assailants attacked their school. During the brutal raid, the school’s vice principal, Malami Hassan Makuku, was tragically killed, and a security guard sustained injuries. Out of the original 25 students abducted, one managed to escape earlier, leaving 24 still held captive before their eventual release on Tuesday, November 25.

The rescue operation garnered widespread commendation, particularly from the Network for Peace and Development (NPD), which welcomed the development in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Moses Adamu. The NPD lauded the federal government and the various security agencies involved for their coordinated response. Adamu specifically acknowledged the timely intervention of President Bola Tinubu, whose prompt directive to security agencies was credited with contributing to the successful rescue. The group also highlighted the crucial roles played by the Chief of Defence Staff, service chiefs, the Inspector-General of Police, and the personnel who participated directly in the operation. Furthermore, the NPD claimed to have supported the security efforts by providing community intelligence and mobilizing local hunters during the extensive search for the missing girls. While celebrating the girls' freedom, the NPD also expressed profound condolences for the murder of Vice Principal Malami Hassan Makuku and urged authorities to implement robust measures to enhance safety and security in schools nationwide.

However, conflicting narratives emerged regarding the exact circumstances of the girls' release. Official statements from Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, announced the freedom of all abducted students. Governor Idris later insisted at a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi that no ransom was paid to secure their liberty, stating, “As a government, we didn’t pay a single naira, and the security officers who went to receive them also said they didn’t take any money.” He added that the students were in good condition and would be handed over to their parents the following day.

Contrary to the government's assertion of no ransom, a video surfaced online, widely shared, which strongly suggested negotiations and a deal had been struck with the bandits. In the clip, one of the armed men is heard questioning the schoolgirls about the military aircraft that had flown over the forest during their captivity, to which the girls replied, “uncountable.” The kidnapper then audaciously boasted that the authorities were incapable of rescuing the students by force and were compelled to negotiate for their release. The abductors further inquired about the girls’ welfare during their time in captivity, asking if they were left hungry or assaulted, with the girls consistently responding “No.” Another bandit explicitly stated, “We are letting you go after negotiations. Your government cannot rescue you with might. Your government has failed,” before assuring them, “We will take you back home safe to your parents, we are doing this based on peace deals.” The footage cast a shadow of doubt over the official narrative, indicating a negotiated settlement rather than a purely force-led rescue. The girls were later seen smiling inside a bus, being transported to Birnin Kebbi, awaiting reunification with their families, with their freedom attributed to the combined efforts of the Office of the National Security Adviser and the State Security Service.