All 24 Kebbi Schoolgirls Rescued - Governor Denies Ransom Payment, Tinubu Orders Air Force Surveillance

In a rare security victory, all 24 schoolgirls abducted by terrorists from the Maga area of Kebbi State have been safely rescued and reunited with their families. The schoolgirls were kidnapped on November 17, 2025, moments after a military detachment had reportedly left the premises.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu immediately welcomed the release, applauding the security forces for their successful operation.

Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris confirmed receiving the rescued girls and made a firm denial regarding the operation's terms.

Governor Nasir Idris: “No Kobo was paid. The military, DSS, and other security forces combed the forest and rescued them unhurt.”

The governor attributed the success directly to the directive of President Tinubu, emphasizing that the operation was conducted by security agencies acting on orders to rescue the girls unhurt, contrary to the narrative that ransom fuels such crimes.

President Tinubu’s Decisive Command

The Kebbi incident, alongside copycat kidnappings in Eruku (Kwara State) and Papiri (Niger State), has forced an aggressive shift in the President’s security strategy.

President Tinubu has ordered a "full security cordon" over the critical forests linking Kwara, Kebbi, and Niger States, a vast area frequently used by bandit and terrorist groups for transit and hideouts.

Key Directives Issued:

1. Continuous Air Surveillance: The Air Force is tasked with maintaining continuous surveillance over the most remote forest areas.

2. Synchronized Operations: Air assets must synchronize operations with ground units to effectively "identify, isolate, disrupt, and neutralise" all hostile elements across the axis.

3. Vigilance Mandate: The President tasked security agents to "put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping."

The President had previously postponed a scheduled trip to the G20 and AU-EU Summits to receive further security briefings, underscoring the gravity with which he views the escalating kidnapping crisis.

Ending the Cycle

While the release of the 24 Kebbi girls and the 38 victims in Eruku is a moment of national relief, President Tinubu immediately tasked security forces with rescuing other students still being held captive in the region.

The victory in Kebbi provides a powerful template: a no-ransom policy backed by an aggressive, coordinated military assault on the criminals' hideouts. The success is being used to build momentum for a decisive effort to break Nigeria's relentless cycle of school abductions.