Two Girls Escape After Armed Bandits Kidnap 25 Students in Kebbi, Nigeria

Kebbi, Nigeria – November 19, 2025: Two girls have successfully escaped after armed bandits kidnapped at least 25 children and a teacher from a boarding school in north-western Nigeria’s Kebbi state, local officials confirmed on Tuesday. The girls fled as their captors were leading them into the forest, crossing farmland to safety. One of the escapees required medical attention for a leg injury sustained while fleeing.

The attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town occurred early Monday morning around 04:00 local time (03:00 GMT). Witnesses said the gunmen, described locally as “bandits,” overpowered police personnel guarding the school and took the students and staff hostage.

Tragically, two staff members were killed during the assault. A teacher lost her life while attempting to protect the students, and a security guard later died in hospital from gunshot wounds. The security guard’s own granddaughter and great-granddaughter were among those abducted, leaving the family devastated.

Local authorities, including a team of soldiers, police, and volunteers, are actively combing forested areas to rescue the remaining captives. Maj Gen Waidi Shaibu, Nigeria’s army chief of staff, urged troops to continue operations day and night, emphasizing the urgency of locating the children.

The kidnapping has plunged families into distress. One father, whose daughter is still missing, described the emotional toll on his family, explaining that his daughters had initially hidden during the attack, but one was forced to surrender when threatened by the gunmen.

“This crisis has shattered the peace of our families,” he said. “It is hard to go back home and look at their faces without knowing if our children are safe.”

Over the past decade, northern Nigeria has witnessed a surge in school abductions, often perpetrated by armed groups seeking ransom or leverage with the government. Such attacks have created a climate of fear, disrupting education and leaving communities on high alert.

The Nigerian central government expressed deep concern over the abduction. Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi said authorities were urgently working to rescue the kidnapped students and staff. President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to protect every Nigerian, particularly schoolchildren, as efforts to secure the release of the remaining captives continue.

This latest incident underscores the persistent security crisis affecting northern Nigeria’s schools, highlighting the vulnerability of students and the ongoing challenges authorities face in safeguarding educational institutions from violent attacks.