All 24 Abducted Schoolgirls in Kebbi, Nigeria, Rescued

All 24 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, Nigeria, on November 17, 2025, have been rescued, President Bola Tinubu announced on Tuesday.

The attack occurred when armed assailants stormed the school, killing the vice principal and abducting 25 students. One student managed to escape on the day of the abduction, while the remaining 24 have now been freed.

President Tinubu expressed relief over the rescue, stating,

"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."

The rescue operation was reportedly facilitated through coordinated efforts by officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services, employing a non-kinetic approach involving dialogue and negotiation.

This incident is part of a series of recent mass abductions in Nigeria. On November 21, more than 300 students and staff were abducted from St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger State, with 50 students escaping over the weekend. Additionally, 10 people were kidnapped in Kwara State, following a recent attack on a nearby church where 38 worshippers were seized but later released.

No group has claimed responsibility for these abductions, but authorities attribute them to armed gangs, often former herders turned bandits, who exploit areas with weak government presence. Mass school abductions have become a hallmark of Nigeria's security crisis, with over 1,500 students kidnapped since the 2014 Chibok incident.