A major rescue of kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria was confirmed Tuesday after Nigerian President Bola Tinubu announced that all 24 captives abducted last week in Kebbi state had been safely recovered. Authorities said gunmen armed with “sophisticated weapons” kidnapped the students before dawn on Nov. 17, prompting a nationwide outcry and renewed concerns about escalating violence targeting children and Christian communities in the region. Tinubu said he was “relieved” and called for increased security forces to prevent future attacks.
“I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for,” Tinubu said in a statement, adding that Nigeria must urgently deploy “more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping.” Officials did not disclose details of how the girls were rescued or identify the group responsible for the abduction. The incident is part of a wave of recent mass kidnappings affecting schools across the country.
On Friday, attackers raided a Catholic school in Niger state and abducted more than 300 students and staff. School leaders reported that 50 students, ages 10 to 18, escaped individually between Friday and Saturday, but 253 students and 12 teachers remain missing. The assault intensified concerns about increasing violence against Christians in Nigeria. President Trump previously designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern” due to attacks on Christian communities, though the Nigerian government disputes that characterization.
The latest rescue highlights both the scale of the threat and the challenges facing Nigerian security forces as abductions continue across rural regions. Officials warned that kidnappers increasingly target schools, forcing families and churches to heighten vigilance while the federal government works to strengthen security operations.
