One Student Escapes After Mass Kidnapping of Twenty Five Girls in Nigeria
One of the twenty five schoolgirls taken during a mass abduction in northwestern Nigeria has managed to escape and return home, according to the principal of the affected high school. The incident has once again drawn attention to the continuing threat posed by armed groups targeting schools in several parts of the country.
The kidnapping happened early on Monday before sunrise when armed men entered the dormitory of the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi state. The attackers moved quickly through the building and took twenty five students away while also killing a staff member during the assault. Local authorities said the attack followed a pattern seen in previous incidents in the region where criminal groups have increasingly targeted educational institutions.
Musa Rabi Magaji, the principal of the school, confirmed on Tuesday that one of the abducted girls had escaped later the same day. She reportedly fled into nearby forests during a moment of confusion and walked for hours before finding her way back home. Her return brought some relief to her family and the school community although the fate of the remaining girls remains unknown.
Security forces have begun search operations in surrounding areas although dense forests and remote terrain have made rescue efforts challenging. The region has experienced repeated attacks by armed gangs who often abduct students to demand ransom payments or attempt to exert pressure on local communities. These incidents have disrupted education and created fear among parents who worry that schools are becoming unsafe for their children.
Officials in Kebbi state said they are coordinating with federal security agencies to track the armed group responsible for the latest kidnapping. They added that efforts are ongoing to locate the students and return them safely. However they also acknowledged the difficulty of such operations given the mobility of the groups involved and the vast areas they can move through without detection.
The escape of one student has given investigators some valuable information about the direction in which the group fled and the conditions the abducted children may be facing. Authorities are expected to use her account to plan search routes and identify possible hideouts.
Human rights organisations have continued to call for stronger security measures around schools especially in regions where attacks have become more frequent. They argue that the safety of students must be a national priority and that both state and federal governments need to take urgent steps to protect education from criminal threats.
As families wait for news many are hoping for a safe return of the remaining girls and a renewed effort to prevent future incidents.
