In a distressing incident emblematic of ongoing security challenges in Nigeria, two schoolgirls made a brave escape from armed kidnappers in Kebbi state. The girls were among at least 25 students and a teacher kidnapped from their boarding school.
Their escape occurred as their captors were leading them into the bushes. According to local council official Hussaini Aliyu, the girls fled across farmland and were later found safe, although one required medical treatment for injuries sustained during their escape.
The attack, which targeted the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, resulted in the deaths of two staff members—a teacher killed while trying to protect the girls and a security guard who succumbed to gunshot wounds later.
A joint operation involving soldiers, police, and volunteers is currently underway to locate the remaining captives. Major General Waidi Shaibu, the army chief of staff, emphasized the urgency of finding the abducted children.
The area has been plagued by regular abductions, predominantly orchestrated by armed groups seeking ransom, creating an ongoing climate of fear among parents and communities. One grieving father revealed the agony of waiting for news of his daughter, who remains missing, sharing the heart-wrenching decision his daughter faced when told to come out of hiding during the attack.
Security forces reported a gunfight with the attackers before they breached the school's perimeter and abducted the students.
Nigeria's central government has expressed deep concern over these abductions, with officials pledging to prioritize the safety of schoolchildren. President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the government's commitment to protect every citizen, especially vulnerable students.
