The 24 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, have been rescued, government and security sources confirmed on Tuesday.
Details of the operation that led to the rescue remain sketchy, but an official statement is expected later tonight.
The abduction occurred on November 17, when armed bandits attacked the school, killing a staff member and injuring a security guard before abducting 25 female students. According to a BBC report, two of the girls managed to escape while being led into the bushes, running across farmland to safety. Hussaini Aliyu, chairman of Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, released the names of the 25 abducted students on November 19, organized by class.
Following the attack, Kebbi State Police Commissioner Bello Sani said additional police tactical units, military personnel, and vigilante groups had been deployed to comb suspected escape routes and surrounding forests. The coordinated search-and-rescue operation aimed to recover the abducted students and apprehend the perpetrators.
Chief of Army Staff, Waidi Shaibu, directed troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to leave no stone unturned in the ongoing operation.
President Bola Tinubu also instructed Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi to monitor security efforts and ensure the safe release of the students.
