Schoolgirl Makes Daring Escape After Nigeria Abduction
A student has managed to escape her captors after being among 25 girls abducted by armed gunmen from a secondary school in northern Nigeria. The brave schoolgirl returned home safely late on Monday, the same day the shocking pre-dawn attack occurred.
The kidnapping took place at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in Kebbi state's Danko-Wasagu area. According to school principal Musa Rabi Magaji, the attack happened at 4am local time (3am UK time) and resulted in tragic consequences beyond the abductions.
Violent Attack and Immediate Aftermath
Police spokesperson Nafi'u Abubakar Kotarkoshi revealed that assailants carrying sophisticated weapons exchanged fire with school guards before seizing the students. During the chaotic incident, the vice-principal lost his life and another staff member sustained injuries.
Mr Magaji confirmed that two students managed to escape following the attack. "One is part of the 25 abducted and the other one returned earlier. They are safe and sound," the principal told The Associated Press.
Rescue Operations and Historical Context
Security forces have intensified their efforts to locate and rescue the remaining missing girls. Police teams are conducting extensive searches of suspected escape routes and surrounding forests in pursuit of both the perpetrators and their young captives.
This incident represents the latest in a disturbing trend of school abductions in Nigeria's northern region, where armed groups have targeted schoolchildren for more than a decade. Authorities have noted a significant uptick in such attacks by various armed groups throughout this year.
The most infamous case occurred in 2014 when militant group Boko Haram abducted 276 students from a secondary school in Chibok, with many victims remaining missing to this day. While authorities have occasionally managed to rescue hostages - such as last year's operation that freed 137 people after more than two weeks - many abducted children often remain in captivity for extended periods.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for Monday's abduction in Kebbi state as the search for the missing students continues.
