The recent release of kidnapped students from Kebbi's Government Girls Secondary School has sparked mixed reactions across Nigeria, particularly after one man's observations about the girls' facial expressions went viral.
What Happened to the Kebbi Students?
Twenty-four female students from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Danko district of Danko Wasagu Local Government Area in Kebbi State were kidnapped by suspected bandits last week. The students spent several days in captivity before regaining their freedom on November 25, 2025.
The Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the Nigerian President, Bola Onanuga, confirmed their release by sharing a video of the students with the caption: "All the 24 Kebbi schoolgirls fully accounted for. No one left behind."
Man's Controversial Observation
A Nigerian man identified as Idris Abdur-Rahman Suleiman on X (formerly Twitter) as @Mr_Ibn_khaldun shared what he noticed about the students' faces in the released video. He expressed confusion about how the girls appeared in the footage.
"We thankfully appreciate all efforts to bring our sisters back home intact," he began. "But our confusion is that the narrative is taking another direction. These girls in this video are as if they are coming back from an excursion.... Their faces shows no sorrow! And how possible???"
Nigerians React to the Observation
The man's post quickly attracted attention and diverse reactions from other social media users. One user, @ademebe0, suggested a possible explanation: "Those girls might not feel threatened again because the terrorist assure them of safe because govt has negotiated with them..."
Another user, @1wAllstreetwolf, took a more critical stance toward the government: "Apc the worst propagandists, if they spend this time for photo optics on governance, they wouldnt be in this position trying to cajole the public."
Meanwhile, another Nigerian man, Opeyemi Timothy Oyeleke, questioned the terms of the students' release and demanded answers from the government about what negotiations took place to secure their freedom.
Broader Context of Kidnappings in Nigeria
This incident occurs against the backdrop of other recent kidnappings in Nigeria. Just days earlier, 38 worshippers from Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku town, Kwara State were kidnapped during a church service on Tuesday, November 18. They were released after five days in captivity, sparking similar questions about negotiation terms and government handling of such situations.
The repeated incidents of mass kidnappings have raised serious concerns about security measures around educational institutions and places of worship across Nigeria, with many citizens calling for more proactive security strategies.
