Twenty-four Nigerian schoolgirls abducted from their boarding school over a week ago have been released, as confirmed by President Bola Tinubu. The girls were taken during an attack on a school in Kebbi State on November 17, marking a relief amid a surge of kidnappings in the region.
Armed assailants stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Kebbi State, killing two members of staff and abducting about 25 students. Two of the girls managed to escape shortly after the incident, reducing the number held captive to 24. The attack underscored the vulnerability of educational institutions in northern Nigeria to criminal activities, with families and communities left in anguish over the safety of their children.
The release of the 24 schoolgirls was announced by President Tinubu, who praised security forces for their swift response. However, details about how the girls were freed remain unclear, with no specific information released about any rescue mission. A special adviser to the president confirmed that all abducted girls have been accounted for, bringing relief to their families after days of uncertainty and fear.
This event is part of a larger pattern of mass kidnappings in Nigeria. Just days earlier, on November 21, more than 250 children and staff were abducted from St. Mary’s School, a Catholic boarding school in Niger State. Many of those victims remain missing, with some officials disputing the exact numbers, and the Christian Association of Nigeria criticizing the government for inadequate rescue efforts. The repeated incidents highlight a deepening security crisis in the West African nation.
In response, President Tinubu canceled his trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to address the kidnappings domestically. He pledged to deploy more personnel to vulnerable areas and enhance surveillance operations, noting that the Air Force would maintain continuous oversight of remote regions. These measures aim to coordinate with ground units to identify and neutralize hostile elements, though challenges persist in vast, rural areas.
The international community has expressed concern, with UN education envoy Gordon Brown calling for global support to return abducted children and ensure schools are safe spaces. Brown, a former UK prime minister, emphasized that children should not be targeted for criminal profit and urged collective action to address the root causes of such violence in Nigeria.
Kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, has become rampant in northern Nigeria, alongside ongoing conflicts with jihadist groups in the northeast. While some claims suggest religious persecution, officials note that terrorists attack people of all faiths, with most victims being Muslim due to regional demographics. The situation has displaced millions and strained national resources.
The abductions recall the infamous 2014 Chibok mass abduction, where over 276 girls were taken, and since then, more than 1,500 children have been kidnapped from Nigerian schools. Efforts to improve security and rescue those still missing continue, but the cycle of violence demands sustained national and international attention to protect education and uphold human rights.
