Two Schoolgirls Escape Kidnapped Ordeal in Nigeria Amid Ongoing Crisis

Sun Nov 30 2025 22:22:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a dramatic turn of events, two schoolgirls who were abducted alongside 25 others from their boarding school in north-western Nigeria managed to escape their captors. This incident highlights the ongoing security challenges in the region and the trauma faced by families of the victims.

Two schoolgirls have escaped their kidnappers in Kebbi State, Nigeria, while a coordinated rescue mission is underway for the remaining captives. This incident underscores the increasing frequency of school abductions in the region and the sorrow of families affected by such violence.

Two girls, who were among at least 25 children and a teacher kidnapped from their boarding school in Kebbi state on Monday, have managed to escape, a local official told the BBC.

The pair ran away as their armed captors were leading them into the bushes and got away across farmland, stated Hussaini Aliyu of Danko Wasagu council. He added that the girls were 'back and are safe,' but one of them required medical attention for a leg injury sustained during the escape.

The assault left two staff members dead: one teacher was killed protecting the girls, while a security guard later succumbed to gunshot wounds in hospital.

A coordinated search team comprised of soldiers, police, and volunteers is currently scouring the forested areas to locate the remaining captives. Nigeria's army chief, Maj Gen Waidi Shaibu, emphasized the importance of continuous effort, stating, You must continue day and night fighting. We must find these children.

In recent years, schools in northern Nigeria have increasingly become targets for armed groups seeking ransom or political leverage, resulting in heartbreaking incidents like this.

The attack, which occurred around 4:00 AM on Monday, involved assailants, referred to locally as 'bandits,' engaging in a gun battle with police before breaching the school's perimeter to capture the girls from their dormitory.

Parents of the abducted students are enduring a painful wait. One distraught father mentioned that despite his two daughters hiding during the attack, only one managed to evade capture, while the other was taken by the assailants.

The emotional toll on families is immense, with one mother expressing grave concerns for her family as she remains unsure about her own granddaughter.

This incident reflects the ongoing security crisis in the region, with the Nigerian government voicing deep concern regarding the abductions. Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi stated the authorities are urgently working to rescue the girls and reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu's commitment to protecting Nigerian schoolchildren.