Twenty-five schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga, Kebbi State, on 17 November have been freed.
A security source familiar with the rescue operation told our correspondent that the students were released on Tuesday morning through the combined efforts of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the State Security Service (SSS). The source did not provide further details but shared photos of the freed schoolgirls.
The abduction had claimed the life of the school’s vice principal, while one student managed to escape during the attack by armed bandits.
President Bola Tinubu welcomed the release of the students and commended the security forces for their efforts. He urged authorities to continue operations to secure the freedom of others still in captivity.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on 25 November 2025, the President said:
“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 Kebbi abduction occurred at dawn on 17 November, shortly after a military detachment left the school premises. The incident reportedly sparked other copycat kidnappings, including in Eruku, Kwara State, and Papiri, Niger State. In Eruku, all 38 abducted victims were freed on Sunday, while in Niger State, 50 missing students from a Catholic school have been reunited with their families.
President Tinubu applauded security agencies for securing the release of victims and reiterated the need for continued vigilance to prevent further attacks.
