24 Schoolgirls Abducted in Kebbi Rescued Amid Intensified Security Operations

All 24 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, have been rescued and are safe, Nigerian authorities confirmed. The abduction occurred early on November 17 when armed gunmen on motorcycles invaded the school, shooting the vice principal in the attack.

One girl managed to escape on the day of the abduction, leaving 25 initially missing. President Bola Tinubu announced the successful rescue on Tuesday, expressing relief and emphasising the government’s commitment to eradicating kidnappings in vulnerable regions.

According to security sources, the attack was a meticulously orchestrated assault carried out at dawn when students were preparing for their morning routines. The gunmen breached the school’s perimeter, abducting female students and inflicting fear throughout the community. The vice principal was fatally shot while trying to protect the students, and a school guard was also injured.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and called attention to the ongoing crisis of mass abductions in northern Nigeria, where armed groups frequently target schools for ransom and terror.

In response, Nigerian security forces rapidly intensified operations, conducting relentless day-and-night pursuits of the kidnappers. Forests near the school known to harbour criminal gangs were blocked off, and troops were deployed along key routes to prevent escape.