Questions Arise Over Kebbi Students' Rescue Operation
Following the release of the students from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, who were kidnapped by suspected bandits last week, a video of the freed girls has sparked a wave of public scrutiny. The students, who were abducted after an attack on their school, regained their freedom on November 25, 2025.
Public Skepticism Over Rescue Details
A member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Imran Muhammad, initially shared the video, captioning it with a statement from a source claiming a combined tactical team from the Office of the National Security Adviser successfully led the rescue mission. However, this official account is now being questioned.
An X user identified as @UnfilteredUnc_ has pointed out several inconsistencies. He did not dispute that the girls were abducted and recovered but argued that the details suggest a ransom exchange rather than a tactical rescue involving a gun battle.
"If this was truly a gun battle between security forces and terrorists, what happened to the terrorists?" he questioned. "Did they just drop the girls, abandon their strategic advantage, and run away untouched? Where are the reports of neutralised or captured attackers, even a single one?"
Unusual Reactions from Rescued Students
The observer further highlighted the girls' demeanor in the video as a key point of concern. He noted that they appeared unusually calm, steady, and composed just minutes after being rescued.
"That is not the typical reaction of children caught in crossfire or violent retrieval," he stated, emphasizing that every genuine armed rescue operation leaves a clear footprint of casualties, arrests, or signs of resistance, which were conspicuously absent in this case.
In a related development, another Nigerian, Opeyemi Timothy Oyeleke, has also reacted to the news, demanding answers from President Tinubu regarding the terms met to secure the students' release. This skepticism mirrors concerns raised about the recent release of 38 kidnapped worshippers in Kwara State, further fueling public debate over the government's handling of kidnapping cases.
