Courageous Escape: Two Girls Flee After Kidnapping at Kebbi School

Kebbi, Nigeria – November 19, 2025: In a dramatic turn of events, two brave girls managed to escape from armed bandits who kidnapped at least 25 students and a teacher from a boarding school in Kebbi state, northern Nigeria, local officials reported on Tuesday. The girls broke free while their captors were guiding them into the forest, navigating through farmland to reach safety. One of the escapees sustained a leg injury during the flight and required medical treatment.

The assault occurred early Monday morning around 04:00 local time (03:00 GMT) at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town. Eyewitnesses recounted that the gunmen, referred to as “bandits,” overwhelmed the police guarding the facility and took the students and staff hostage.

Tragedy struck as two staff members lost their lives during the siege. A teacher was killed while trying to shield the students, and a security guard later succumbed to injuries from gunshot wounds. Devastatingly, the guard's granddaughter and great-granddaughter were among those abducted.

Responding to the crisis, local authorities, alongside soldiers, police, and volunteers, are meticulously searching forest areas to rescue the remaining captives. Maj Gen Waidi Shaibu, Nigeria’s army chief of staff, has called on troops to maintain 24/7 operations, stressing the importance of locating the children quickly.

The families affected are in a state of anguish. One father, whose daughter remains missing, shared the emotional burden on his household, detailing how his daughters had concealed themselves during the attack, but one was ultimately forced to emerge when threatened by the assailants.

“This crisis has shattered our family's peace,” he lamented. “It’s heartbreaking to return home and see their faces, unsure if our children are safe.”

In recent years, northern Nigeria has seen a troubling rise in school abductions, frequently carried out by armed groups aiming to extract ransom or gain leverage over the government. Such acts have instilled fear in communities and disrupted the educational system.

The Nigerian central government has expressed grave concern over the situation. Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi stated that officials are engaging urgently to rescue the kidnapped students and staff. President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his dedication to safeguarding all Nigerians, especially schoolchildren, as efforts intensify to free the remaining captives.

This recent incident shines a light on the ongoing security challenges afflicting northern Nigeria’s schools, emphasizing the risk faced by students and the hurdles that authorities confront in ensuring the safety of educational institutions.