Nigeria's defense ministry says security forces have identified the location of schoolgirls abducted from their boarding school in Kebbi State. The announcement offers a glimmer of hope for families who have waited for news since the attack six days ago.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, told reporters in Birnin Kebbi that troops have made significant progress in the operation. He said intelligence shows security agencies are close to the abducted children. The minister confirmed that operations are now being intensified in the identified area. Coordinated efforts are underway to ensure the girls' safe return .
This development comes amid a devastating wave of mass abductions across northern Nigeria. The country is reeling from another major kidnapping just four days after the Kebbi incident. Gunmen abducted 303 students and 12 teachers from a Catholic school in Niger State . That attack now stands as one of the worst mass school abductions in Nigeria's history. It surpasses the infamous 2014 Chibok kidnapping where Boko Haram militants seized 276 girls .
The crisis began in the early hours of Monday, November 17. Armed men stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, a town in Kebbi State's Danko Wasagu Local Government Area. They kidnapped 25 students from the boarding school . The school's vice-principal was killed in the attack . Since then, one of the abducted girls managed to escape and return safely . This leaves 24 students still missing .
Authorities face tough questions about security lapses. The governor of Kebbi State claimed that security forces had left the school area just thirty minutes before the bandits struck . The Defense Headquarters has confirmed it is investigating this allegation. A thorough review is underway to learn what happened with troop deployment that night .
In response to the kidnappings, President Bola Tinubu took decisive action. He ordered Defence Minister Bello Matawalle to immediately relocate to Kebbi State . The minister is to remain there and monitor rescue efforts until all students are safely recovered . The president believes Matawalle's past experience will prove valuable. As governor of Zamfara State, he helped secure the release of 279 students kidnapped in 2021 .
The search for the missing Kebbi schoolgirls is not happening in isolation. It forms part of a much larger security crisis gripping northern and central Nigeria. The mass abduction of 315 children and teachers from St. Mary's Catholic School in Niger State's Papiri community has shocked the nation . The Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 50 of those students have since escaped their captors. They have been reunited with their families . Their escape brought some relief. But 253 students and 12 teachers remain in captivity .
These school kidnappings have forced state governments to take drastic measures. Authorities in Kebbi, Niger, Katsina, Yobe, and Kwara states have ordered schools to close . The goal is to protect students from becoming soft targets for kidnappers. The Kebbi State government called the closure a needed step for safety. It followed ongoing security reviews of the threats .
President Tinubu has canceled foreign trips to address the security situation at home . He has also announced major changes to security policy. In a significant move, the president ordered the withdrawal of police officers assigned to protect Very Important Persons . These officers will now be redirected to core police duties. They will focus on protecting remote areas that often face attacks . Tinubu has also approved the recruitment of 30,000 new police officers .
The international community is watching Nigeria closely. The United Nations Children's Fund strongly condemned the attack on the Kebbi school. UNICEF called the abduction of children a brutal and grave violation of children's rights. The agency demanded the urgent protection of all students . Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sadness over the kidnappings. He called for the immediate release of all hostages. He urged authorities to act swiftly to ensure their freedom .
The kidnappings have also sparked a complex international debate. Former US President Donald Trump has threatened military action. He claims it is needed to stop what he calls the killing of Nigeria's Christians . The Nigerian government firmly rejects this claim. Officials say terrorists attack everyone. Their victims include Muslims, Christians, and people of no faith alike . Analysis supports the government's position. Most victims of militant groups are Muslim. This is because most attacks occur in Nigeria's majority-Muslim north .
The problem of kidnapping for ransom by criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, has become widespread in Nigeria . These gangs often target schools, travelers, and remote villages. Paying ransoms is now outlawed. The government hopes this will cut off money to the criminals. But the law has had little effect so far .
As the military intensifies its search for the Kebbi schoolgirls, parents and the nation wait anxiously for a breakthrough. The Defence Headquarters has assured the public that rescuing the students is a top priority. Troops are actively pursuing all leads to bring the girls home safely . For a country that has seen more than 1,500 students kidnapped since the Chibok incident in 2014, the hope is that this crisis will finally lead to lasting solutions .