Emotional Scenes as Freed Kebbi Schoolgirls Return to Their Families

In Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday, the Government House was awash with emotion as parents embraced the 24 schoolgirls of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, who were rescued after days in captivity.

What began as a formal handover quickly became heartfelt family reunions. Governor Nasir Idris personally returned the girls to their parents, one by one, offering a moment of healing for a community that had endured sleepless nights of fear.

Mothers wept openly, fathers whispered prayers of thanks, and the girls, who had undergone medical examinations, clung tightly to their families. Each embrace told a story of survival and resilience.

Governor Idris, visibly moved, described the moment as “a triumph of faith, unity, and courage,” commending the joint military and security operations that secured the children’s release. He also acknowledged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s swift intervention, supported by top security officials, including the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle. The governor encouraged parents to continue supporting their children’s education and reaffirmed Kebbi State’s free schooling policy from primary to tertiary levels. He confirmed that the rescued schoolgirls were in good health and unharmed during their captivity.

Malam Illiyasu Garba, father of four of the abducted girls, described the handover as “the end of the darkest week of my life,” while Abdulkarim Abdullahi said the reunion renewed his faith in Nigeria.

District Head Muhammad Sani Dantani praised the earlier deployment of armed soldiers to protect the school and ensure safety. Journalists were restricted from interviewing the girls to safeguard their wellbeing. Details regarding any ransom remain undisclosed.

Meanwhile, APC National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda assured families in Niger State that abducted students and teachers of St. Mary’s Catholic School would soon regain their freedom. Yilwatda visited the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Niger State and Governor Mohammed Bago, expressing solidarity and prayers for the victims.

On a wider scale, the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) warned of a coordinated surge in violence across Northern Nigeria. In a statement, CNG National Coordinator Jamilu Charanchi claimed that both foreign and domestic actors were collaborating to destabilize the region. He condemned misinformation and criticized the closure of 47 Unity Schools in the North due to insecurity, describing recent attacks—including kidnappings in Kwara, Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara, and the murder of a Brigadier General—as politically orchestrated rather than random acts of banditry. He called on the Federal Government to investigate and prosecute those spreading disinformation and fostering instability.

Northern Nigeria has faced repeated attacks on educational institutions in recent days. On Monday, armed gunmen raided Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, abducting 24 students and killing the vice-principal. Just days later, St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools in Papiri, Niger State, were attacked, with hundreds of students and staff kidnapped, although 50 pupils managed to escape.

For Kebbi, the safe return of the girls represents more than a government achievement—it is a restored sense of hope and resilience for a community that has endured trauma and fear.