Twenty-four of the schoolgirls kidnapped from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State have regained their freedom, bringing waves of relief and jubilation to the traumatised community.
Security sources confirmed the development to TheCable on Tuesday, though details of the rescue operation remain sketchy. An official government announcement is expected later tonight.
The girls were abducted on November 17 when bandits stormed the school, killing an official and injuring a security guard before whisking away 25 female students.
A BBC report earlier revealed that two of the abducted girls had managed to escape. Citing Hussaini Aliyu, an official from Danko Wasagu LGA, the BBC said the students fled as the bandits marched them into the bush and successfully crossed nearby farmlands to safety.
On November 19, Aliyu, who also serves as chairman of Danko/Wasagu LGA, released the full list of the 25 abducted schoolgirls, organised by class category and obtained by TheCable.
Following the attack, Bello Sani, Kebbi commissioner of police, deployed additional police tactical units to the area, working alongside the military and local vigilante groups.
He said the combined team was combing suspected escape routes and surrounding forests as part of a coordinated search-and-rescue mission.
Waidi Shaibu, chief of army staff, also directed troops under Operation FANSAN YANMA to intensify efforts and “leave no stone unturned” in tracking down the abductors.
President Bola Tinubu subsequently ordered Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi to oversee the rescue mission. According to the directive, Matawalle was to “monitor security efforts to secure the release of the abducted students.”
With the safe recovery of 24 girls, security officials say efforts are continuing to account for the remaining student and apprehend the perpetrators.
