One of the abducted schoolgirls in northwestern Nigeria managed to escape along with 24 others from their dormitory, confirmed by the school’s principal to The Associated Press on Tuesday. The incident occurred when armed gunmen attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi state, and kidnapped the girls early Monday morning. The attackers breached the school premises by scaling the fence, engaged in a shootout with the police, and tragically killed a staff member during the raid.
Although no specific group has claimed responsibility for the abduction, it is a common tactic for bandits in the region to target schools, travelers, and rural communities for ransom. These bandits, mostly former herders, have turned to violence against farming communities due to ongoing resource conflicts.
Notably, northern Nigeria has seen a rise in mass school abductions, with Kebbi state being close to areas known for such criminal activities, including Zamfara and Sokoto states. The school principal, Musa Rabi Magaji, confirmed that one student escaped during the raid, and another successfully fled shortly after, ensuring their safety.
The escapee student returned home after the abduction, and a verified video showed her and another girl, likely in their early teens, reunited with their families in the village. Meanwhile, security forces, along with local hunters, intensified their search efforts in the nearby forests where the kidnappers often hide, and security measures were heightened along the routes leading to the school.
Government officials, including Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris and Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, have pledged to rescue the remaining abducted students. Lt. Gen. Shaibu emphasized the need for swift and thorough intelligence-driven operations to track down the perpetrators.
Families’ Accounts of the Attack
By the following day, the school premises were deserted, and families anxiously awaited updates on their loved ones. Residents, such as Abdulkarim Abdullahi and Amina Hassan, recounted the harrowing events of the predawn attack, with Abdullahi hearing gunshots and Hassan losing her husband, who was also the school’s security officer, in the violent intrusion.
Abductions as a Tactic
Since the infamous abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram extremists over a decade ago, over 1,500 students have been kidnapped in the region. In addition to terrorist groups, bandits have increasingly targeted schools, viewing such abductions as a means to attract attention and press for their demands. The ongoing insecurity is attributed to the failure to prosecute criminals, widespread corruption, and the illicit arms trade that fuels the activities of these criminal groups.
Security analysts like Oluwole Ojewale highlight the strategic nature of kidnappings, particularly involving school children, to draw widespread attention and amplify the impact of such criminal acts.