Twenty-Four Nigerian Schoolgirls Freed After Abduction

Published: 26 November 2025 Wednesday. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A group of 24 Nigerian schoolgirls abducted from their boarding school in Kebbi State over a week ago have been released, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed on Tuesday. The incident occurred on 17 November when armed assailants stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), killing one staff member and kidnapping 25 students. One of the students managed to escape shortly after the attack.

President Tinubu praised security forces for their “swift response” to the crisis, though details surrounding the girls’ release remain unclear. A special adviser to the president confirmed that all 24 students have now been accounted for. Tinubu also announced plans to deploy more personnel to vulnerable areas to prevent further abductions and called for continuous Air Force surveillance to identify and neutralise hostile elements in remote regions.

Nigeria has experienced a surge in school abductions in recent years. Since 2014, more than 1,500 children have been kidnapped from schools across the country, including the infamous Chibok mass abduction of 276 girls. Last Friday, at least 300 children and staff were abducted from St Mary’s School, a Catholic boarding school in Niger State. While 50 have escaped, at least 250 remain missing.

The Catholic Church has criticised the Nigerian government for making “no meaningful effort” to rescue the remaining children. These abductions, often carried out for ransom or political leverage, have forced President Tinubu to cancel international trips, including attendance at the G20 summit in South Africa, to focus on the crisis.

UN education envoy Gordon Brown, former UK prime minister, urged the international community to support efforts to secure the safe return of abducted children. He stressed the importance of making Nigerian schools safe spaces for learning, free from criminal exploitation.

As authorities work to track and prevent further incidents, the release of the 24 girls marks a rare positive development amid a continuing national security challenge. Nigerian citizens and the international community continue to call for stronger measures to safeguard children and end the cycle of abductions affecting schools across the country.