The terrorists holding abducted schoolgirls from Kebbi State have released a new video deriding the Nigerian government, claiming that state power played no role in the students’ release and insisting that their freedom would only come through discussions with unnamed influential individuals.
In the footage obtained by SaharaReporters, the schoolgirls were seen seated on the ground under the watch of armed men and were instructed by their captors to state the current date and year, apparently to verify the recency of the recording. Several of the terrorists appeared in what resembled soldiers’ uniforms and were shown with brand-new motorcycles, assault rifles, and other sophisticated weapons.
During the recording, a masked militant questioned the students about their welfare, asking whether they had been molested, and the girls responded in unison, “No.” He asked, “Did we leave you hungry? Did we protect you?” and they replied, “Yes.” He continued, “We will release you so you can return to your parents peacefully, by God’s grace. Has anyone here spoken to you maliciously or used sexual words toward you?” The students responded, “No.” He added, “All of you are in good condition. By God’s grace, we will release you based on the peace agreement and let you go home.”
The terrorists escalated their taunts by ridiculing the federal government’s inability to conduct a rescue. “Since you were kidnapped, how many jets did you see come to rescue you?” one militant asked, to which the girls replied that they did not know. “You see that the government has found it difficult to rescue you,” he said. “We will release you so you can return to your parents peacefully, by God’s grace. All of you are in good condition.” He then declared that their release was not a result of state action, stating, “The government’s power did not secure your release from us. We are releasing you because there is an ongoing discussion with some important people involved.”
President Bola Tinubu had earlier welcomed the release of 24 of the abducted schoolgirls taken from Maga in Kebbi State last Monday and called on security agencies to intensify operations to free others still in captivity. The girls were abducted at dawn on November 17, shortly after a military detachment left the school premises, an event that raised questions about security gaps and contributed to heightened national concern. The attack triggered copycat kidnappings in Eruku, Kwara State, and Papiri, Niger State, reflecting a growing trend in which criminal groups exploit vulnerabilities across multiple regions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency announced that President Tinubu commended security operatives for their relentless efforts in securing the release of the victims. It stated, “President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the release today of the 24 schoolgirls abducted by terrorists in Maga Kebbi last Monday. Terrorists struck at the school at dawn on November 17 and abducted the girls, moments after a military detachment left the premises. The Kebbi incident triggered some other copycat kidnappings in Eruku in Kwara State and Papiri in Niger State.” The statement further disclosed that “all 38 kidnapped victims in Eruku were freed on Sunday”, and added that “the same day, the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria said 50 of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger have been found in their parents’ homes.”
According to the Presidency, “President Tinubu applauded the security agents for all the efforts made to secure freedom for all the victims taken away by the terrorists.” The President was quoted as saying, “I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for. Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping. My government will offer all the assistance needed to achieve this.”
Despite the government’s acknowledgment of the progress in recovering the abducted victims, the presidential statement made no reference to pursuing justice against the terrorists, a point likely to draw public scrutiny as communities across the affected states continue to grapple with persistent insecurity. The recent wave of abductions reflects a wider pattern of coordinated attacks that have intensified since 2021, when mass school kidnappings surged in northern Nigeria, prompting increased calls for stronger security interventions and improved rapid response capabilities.
