In a critical development, Nigeria's security forces have successfully located the camp where armed bandits are holding the schoolgirls abducted from Kebbi State. The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, made this announcement, signalling a potential breakthrough in the tense rescue mission.
Progress in the Rescue Operation
Addressing journalists in Birnin Kebbi, Minister Matawalle confirmed that military troops deployed earlier in the week have made significant headway. Security operatives are now deepening their operations in the identified location, with coordinated efforts focused on ensuring the safe return of the students. The minister assured the public that the government is treating the situation with the utmost urgency and called for calm among residents.
The tragic incident began on Monday, 17 November 2025, when armed terrorists stormed the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area. During the attack, the assailants killed one staff member, injured another, and succeeded in kidnapping 25 female students. Officials later confirmed a small victory when one of the abducted girls managed to escape and safely return home.
Broader Concerns and Calls for Action
This abduction has intensified deep-seated fears about school safety in northern Nigeria, a region plagued by similar attacks in recent years. Parents, guardians, and community members are once again raising their voices, demanding stronger protection for educational institutions, especially in vulnerable rural areas.
The international NGO, Save the Children, has strongly condemned the abduction. The organisation's Country Director in Nigeria, Duncan Harvey, emphasised that education is a fundamental right under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and Nigeria’s own Child Rights Act. “Education is not a privilege; it is a fundamental right. The time to act is now,” Harvey stated. “Government, communities, and partners must unite to make every school a safe and protected place for learning. No child should pay for education with their life.”
A Pattern of Violence Against Education
Data from Save the Children’s Education Under Attack in Nigeria report paints a grim picture of the security challenges facing schools. The report indicates that between February 2014 and December 2022, the nation witnessed at least 70 attacks on schools. A staggering 49 of these attacks occurred in Northwest Nigeria.
The consequences have been devastating:
- 1,683 learners were abducted.
- 184 pupils were killed.
- 25 school buildings were destroyed.
While the frequency of such incidents had declined in recent years, the abduction in Kebbi represents the first major school kidnapping since March 2024, when over 200 pupils were taken from Kuriga in Kaduna State.
Save the Children is calling for a multi-faceted response. The organisation urges governments to act swiftly to secure the girls' release and hold the perpetrators accountable. It also advocates for scaling up security around schools in high-risk areas through community-based protection systems and rapid response teams. For long-term safety, the NGO recommends reinforcing the implementation of the National Policy on Safety, Security, and Violence-Free Schools and addressing the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty and unemployment.
