Twenty-four schoolgirls who were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Maga in Kebbi State have been rescued, security sources confirmed. The girls were seized on November 17 during an attack by armed bandits, in which an official was killed and a security guard injured.
Rescue Operation and Response
Sources say that the rescue involved coordinated efforts by police tactical units, the military, and local vigilante groups. The Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, ordered troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to intensify the search for the abducted girls. In addition, President Bola Tinubu directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi to closely monitor the rescue operations.
Earlier Developments
Two of the girls reportedly managed to escape immediately after the abduction, while local authorities from Danko Wasagu Local Government Area released a list of the kidnapped students. The Kebbi police commissioner, Bello Sani, confirmed that security forces were actively combing suspected escape routes and surrounding forests in a coordinated search for the remaining girls.
Public Pressure and Calls for Action
A coalition of northern women’s groups, Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW), condemned the abduction, describing it as part of a recurring security failure. The group has urged authorities to conduct intelligence-driven rescue operations, provide regular public updates, and demonstrate visible leadership at both federal and state levels.
