Two Students Successfully Escape from Armed Kidnappers in Kebbi, Nigeria

Kebbi, Nigeria – November 19, 2025: Two students have successfully escaped the grips of armed bandits who kidnapped 25 children and a teacher from a boarding school in Kebbi state, local officials reported on Tuesday. The girls made their escape while being moved into the forest, crossing farmland to reach safety. One of them required medical care for injuries sustained during the flight.

The attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town occurred early Monday morning around 04:00 local time (03:00 GMT). According to witnesses, the assailants, labeled as “bandits,” overran the police guarding the school and seized hostages.

Sadly, two staff members lost their lives during the attack. A teacher was killed while trying to shield students, and a security guard later succumbed to gunshot wounds at the hospital. The family of the security guard, whose granddaughter and great-granddaughter were among those taken, is devastated.

Local authorities, supported by soldiers, police, and volunteers, are actively searching forested areas to rescue the remaining captives. Maj Gen Waidi Shaibu, Nigeria’s army chief of staff, stressed the need for troops to persist with rescue efforts around the clock.

This incident has pushed families into a state of anguish. One father, whose daughter is missing, shared the emotional strain on his family, noting that his daughters initially hid during the ordeal, but one was compelled to surrender at gunpoint.

“This crisis has shattered the peace of our families,” he lamented. “Returning home is difficult when there’s uncertainty about our children’s safety.”

In recent years, northern Nigeria has seen a rise in school kidnappings, often executed by armed groups seeking ransom or to leverage political negotiations. Such incidents have instilled fear in communities and disrupted the educational landscape.

The Nigerian central government has condemned the abduction. Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi stated that authorities are urgently working to rescue the kidnapped individuals. President Bola Tinubu has reiterated his commitment to safeguard every Nigerian, especially students, as efforts continue to secure the release of the remaining hostages.

This latest kidnapping highlights the ongoing security crisis affecting schools in northern Nigeria, exposing the vulnerability of students and the persistent challenges faced by authorities in ensuring the protection of educational institutions from violent incursions.