Members of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP) terror group yesterday abducted 13 teenage female farmers from Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State.

The Deputy Speaker, Borno State House of Assembly, Abdullahi Askira, who confirmed the abduction, said the victims were abducted on their fields in Mussa District.

This has happened less than one week after the mass abductions of students from the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School Maga in Danko Wasagu Local Area of Kebbi State and St. Mary’s Secondary and Primary School, Papiri, in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.

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The raids occurred alongside an attack on a church in Kwara, in which two people were killed and dozens abducted.

The surge in abductions comes amid rising international tension. It would be recalled that the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, had threatened military action over what he terms the persecution of Christians by radical Islamist groups in Nigeria, a claim rejected by the Nigerian authorities, insisting that the issue is more complex than the way it is being presented.

Nigeria continues to grapple with the legacy of mass kidnappings, most notably the 2014 abduction of nearly 300 schoolgirls from Chibok by Boko Haram militants. Many of those victims remain missing more than a decade later.

Speaking on the latest incident, Abdullahi, who represents Askira-Uba constituency, said the 13 abductees who are between the ages of 15 and 20 went to their farmland in Mussa farming area to harvest their crops when the assailants took them away.

He explained that both Huyim and Mussa are farming communities in Askira -Uba LGA, but the government relocated the residents of Huyim to Mussa due to lack of security.

He said, “The victims are among those relocated to a relatively peaceful community of Mussa to earn means of their livelihoods through joint community farming.

“One of the victims who managed to escape has been reunited with her family.

“But, the other 12 victims, mostly between the ages of 15 to 20 years, are still in the custody of the abductors whose whereabouts remain unknown.”

Reacting, the Senator representing the area, Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) called on the security agencies to intensify efforts and safely rescue the victims unhurt.

He appealed to people in the areas to continue to pray for the safe return of the abducted girls, while providing timely information to security agencies and relevant authorities on any suspected movement of terrorists in their respective communities.

50 abducted Niger students recovered

In a related development, 50 out of the 315 people abducted from St. Mary Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State on Friday, have been recovered.  The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora confirmed the development yesterday through a statement issued by the Diocesan Secretary, Rev. Fr. Jatau Luka Joseph.

Ahmed Ismail Dangiwa

A parent whose three children (aged between 12 and 18) remain missing recounted how the 50 students escaped from their captors.

Speaking with Daily Trust via telephone, Dangiwa explained that although his three children were not among the returnees, the 50 students seized the opportunity to flee when one of the trucks transporting them broke down.

Dangiwa stated that he had gone to verify the identities of the returned students but could not find any of his children among them.

“I went to check the students who escaped, but my children were not among them. One of my children is 18, the second is 15, and the third is 12 years old.

“The 50 children that returned actually escaped from the captors when one of the trucks conveying them developed a fault. The abductors used three Mitsubishi Canter trucks. According to the children, when the truck in front developed a fault, the bandits followed the remaining two on motorcycles while some stayed back to fix the faulty truck. The older children jumped down and ran into the forest, luckily encountering good citizens who rescued them.

“However, the smaller ones could not jump, so the bandits went away with them,” he said.

Diocese releases names of returnees

The Catholic Diocese of Kontagora has released the names of the 50 students who have returned. The Diocesan Secretary, Rev. Fr. Jatau Luka Joseph, listed the returnees as follows:

Samson Bitrus, Emmanuel Francis, Amos Mathew, Timothy Peter, Ayuba Victor, Bulus Emmanuel, Caleb Hosea, Catherine Emmanuel, Christopher Ezekiel, Dominic Daniel, Dominic Elisha, Elisha Haruna, Elisha Yakubu, Ezekiel Emmanuel, Ezekiel Joel, Ezekiel Pius, Ezra James, Friday Joel, Gloria Jeremiah, Godiya Mathew, and Iliya Philip.

Others include: Ishaya David, Joseph Sunday, Julius Paul, Justina Adamu, Keziah Musa, Lawrence James, Lawrence Yohanna, Marcus Bulus, Mariam Joshua, Mathew Dauda, Micah Luka, Michael Jacob, Musa Timothy, Naomi Bulus, Nicodemus Ibrahim, Peter Jonathan, Priscilla Peter, Emmanuel Godwin, Samaila Dauda, Stephen Anthony, Sunday Shedrack, Veronica Iliya, Victoria Ishaku, Vincent Emmanuel, Wisdom Fabian, Yakubu Saminu, Yunusa Musa, and Yusuf Sunday.

Confirming the development, the state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Most Rev. Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, released a statement through his aide, Daniel Atori, on Sunday.

“This is to notify the public that as at Sunday, 23rd November 2025, we have received some good news as fifty (50) pupils escaped and have reunited with their parents.”

Parents, governor disagree over visit

Meanwhile, some parents faulted Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago for not visiting the school—the scene of the attack—after his visit to the palace of the Emir of Borgu, under whose emirate the school is located.

The governor, who returned to Minna on Saturday after sympathising with the Emir of Borgu, Alhaji Sani Haliru-Dantoro, explained his decision to stop at New Bussa.

“We have come to the Emir’s palace today to commiserate with the Borgu Emirate over the unfortunate incident at Papiri Catholic School. The security agencies are already there; there is nobody in that school; they have been carted away and some have gone home. So, there is no point for us to visit the scene because it will be an exercise in futility,” he said.

However, some parents disagreed with him.  Sunday Ishaku, whose 11-year-old son, Godwin Sunday Ishaku, was kidnapped said, “It is not true that there are no longer people in the school or area. There are people, including parents. How can parents go back home and sit when nothing has been heard about their children? Even as I speak with you, there are parents waiting to get situation report from the school.

“My 11-year-old son was taken away. He is currently in Nursery 3, because we enrolled him late. Nursery pupils also live in the hostel. I am from Babanna, Borgu LGA, which is far from the school. But immediately I was informed of the incident, I rushed down to Papiri. We have cried day and night since the incident happened because many of the abductees are small children. There are three-year-old children among them. We are appealing to the government to intensify search and rescue efforts to bring back these children.”

Another parent, Michael Ibrahim, who also insisted that there were people in the area, told Daily Trust that his Primary two son, Yeremiah Michael, was among the abductees.

“What I am feeling now is beyond what I can explain. I am traumatised. Many parents are on the ground to get situation report.”

A parent identified simply as Baraganu stated that two of his children and 12 grandchildren were among the abductees. He noted that they were able to speak with some of the escaped victims, who revealed that the students were separated from the staff during the abduction.

“I am in pains. The abductees are small children who shouldn’t be subjected to this kind of harsh situation. Some parents are currently between life and death. I know of a father whose five children are among them. Some parents are in tears day and night,” he said.

He added that none of the schools in Agwara LGA were closed prior to the attack.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Borgu described the incident as a tragedy while noting that the Kainji National Park, where the children were reportedly taken, is vast.

“The park was meant for tourism, but today, nobody can go to spend his holiday there; the animals are no more; the trees we had there are no more; people have taken them away. All we have in that forest are these bandits who are killing our people and taking people away. We feel that it is no longer tenable. That place should be converted to another purpose that would be more beneficial to the people and Nigeria.”

We’ve identified location of abducted Kebbi schoolgirls – Minister

The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, said troops have identified the location of schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State.

Matawalle, during a media briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, said significant progress had been made since the deployment of the security agencies to rescue the abducted schoolgirls.

“The issue of security is sensitive, but so far, the intelligence we had at hand shows that we are almost close to those children (the abducted school girls).

“Currently, we have deployed a lot of security agents to cover all and block most of the routes within Kebbi and Zamfara State and neighbouring Niger State. We need cooperation from the surrounding communities,” Matawalle said in a report published by Premium Times.

President Tinubu had on Thursday directed Matawalle to relocate to Kebbi State over the abduction of the schoolgirls.

Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, was tasked with monitoring the security agencies’ rescue efforts.

He was the governor of Zamfara when, in 2021, bandits abducted 279 students from the Government Girls Science Secondary School, a boarding school in Jangebe, in Zamfara State.

Meanwhile, eight days after the incidents, parents of the girls lament that they have yet to get any concrete information on their whereabouts.

One of the parents, Hajiya Hadiza, said, “It’s becoming more worrisome for me each day without hearing anything about Amina, my daughter. They have assured me that they would bring my daughter and other children back to us, but as parents, we are worried.”

Also, Sa’ad Abubakar, a relative of one of the girls called on government to help rescue the students as promised. “We know the state governor and federal government have been working together to bring our children back to us. But we have cause to be worried because we don’t know where they are and what those who abducted them are doing to them,” he said.

38 worshippers abducted from Kwara church freed

The 38 worshippers who were abducted from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have been released.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq announced their freedom on Sunday afternoon, expressing thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement, Rafiu Ajakaye, his Chief Press Secretary, issued on his behalf, the governor said, “The abductees were freed today, November 23. The governor is immensely grateful to President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for his direct initiative that made this happen.

“The president had called off his scheduled trip for the G20 meeting in South Africa to attend to the breaches in Kwara and Kebbi States. He had also directed heightened security deployments to Kwara, in what underlined his firm commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our people and Nigerians as a whole.”

The kidnappers had earlier demanded a ransom of N100 million naira for each of the victims, but later lowered the figure to N20 million. The governor did not state whether any ransom was paid.

Residents of Eruku had released a list of the 35 abducted persons, stating that the youngest was seven-years-old and the oldest, 64, with 30 of the victims being women.

The list includes: Felicia Ige (64), Timileyin Joshua (22), Elizabeth Rotimi (27), Samuel Ayodele (34), Olutokun Yetunde (23), Olutokun Janet (36), Olutokun Juwon (10), Olutokun Jumbu (12), Ebenezer Aina (24), and Titilayo Balogun (59).

Others are: Opeyemi Asaba (24), Grace Balogun (62), Ayodele Taye (42), Oloke Funmilayo (42), Joseph Olaitan (24), Eniola Princess (23), Comfort Atolani (44), Joanah Atolani (7), Imole Aina (9), Moses Ojasope (12), Iyabo Ajayi (40), Adeojo Ojasope (19), Ojo Ajayi (10), Funmilayo Joshua (64) and Iyabo Michael (32).

Also listed are: Bimpe Ige (20), Grace Iyabo Ige (41), Deborah Peter (38), Omolola Mustapha (40), Idowu Mustapha (17), Emmanuel Bamidele (22), Ade Ajayi (7), Foluso Caleb (42), Funmilayo Ayodele (37), Folorunso Bamidele (42), Akinola Toluwani (24) and Akinola Babalola (14).

I’m monitoring situation nationwide – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said yesterday that he was closely monitoring the security situation across the nation.

The president said this while reacting to the release of the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State and recovery of 50 of the students abducted from Niger school.

In a post on his X handle, Tinubu recalled that he cancelled his trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to enable him coordinate the security efforts at home, vowing that, “under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people.”

The president commended the effort of the security forces over the last few days, saying, “all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State have been rescued.

“I am closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the frontline. Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people.

“Thanks to the efforts of our security forces over the last few days, all the 38 worshippers abducted in Eruku, Kwara State have been rescued.

“I am equally happy that 51 out of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger State have been recovered.

“I am closely monitoring the security situation nationwide and receiving continuous updates from the frontline,” he wrote.

More states shut down schools

Following the directive by the Federal Ministry of Education to shut down 41 Unity Schools, most of them located in the northern part of the country; other northern states, including Yobe, Kebbi, Katsina, Kwara, Adamawa and Taraba, have also announced closures of schools, particularly boarding institutions, citing rising security threats.

FCT: 

In Abuja, parents were at the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC) Bwari in Abuja on Saturday to pick up their children. It was gathered that parents packed up their daughters’ belongings, loaded luggage into vehicles, and arranged immediate transportation home. Some students, still wearing their uniforms, were seen hauling boxes and bags, while others helped classmates who had not yet finished gathering their items.

The Yobe State Government, led by Governor Mai Mala Buni, ordered the closure of all boarding secondary schools across the state. He described the directive as “a proactive measure to safeguard students,” adding that schools would remain shut “until the security situation in the country improves.”

In Kebbi, the government ordered the closure of all public and private secondary schools and several tertiary institutions. The decision, announced jointly by Issa Abubakar-Tunga, Commissioner for Higher Education, and Halima Bande, Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, was described as necessary “following the recent cases of attacks in parts of the state.”

The closure affected major institutions like the Kebbi State Polytechnic, Dakingari, Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology, Aliero, College of Health Sciences and Technology, Jega, Adamu Augie College of Education, Argungu and School of Remedial Studies, Yauri

Katsina State also directed all public primary and secondary schools to close. Commissioner Yusuf Suleman Jibia explained that the order applied to all boarding and non-boarding schools. He said the decision was taken to “strengthen security and protect the education system,” adding that it was a “precautionary measure” given the worsening security threats.

The Kwara State Government shut down schools in Isin, Irepodun, Ifelodun, and Ekiti LGAs after receiving intelligence reports suggesting new threats. NUT Chairman, Yusuf Agboola, emphasised that the decision followed directives from the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development due to “new security threats happening in Kwara South.”

In Adamawa State, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri announced the temporary conversion of all boarding secondary schools into day schools. A circular from the state’s Ministry of Education stated:

“This is to formally notify the general public, school administrators, parents, and guardians that due to the prevailing security challenges in the country, all Boarding Secondary Schools in Adamawa State are hereby directed to transition to Day Secondary Schools until further notice.”

The Commissioner added that “this directive is issued in the interest of the safety and well-being of all students and staff.”

To oversee compliance, the Adamawa Commissioner of Police, CP Dankombo Moris, conducted assessments across schools, saying the command had drafted “an operational action plan to intensify security checks and engagements.”

In Taraba, Governor Agbu Kefas ordered all public and private boarding schools to deboard their students and operate strictly as day schools. The directive, communicated through Education Commissioner Dr. Augustina Godwin, cited the fact that bandits appeared to be targeting boarding students specifically.

“Boarding students, either in public or private secondary schools, are the target of the bandits,” she wrote, referencing the Niger and Kebbi abductions.

The directive was also sent to key education bodies including APSON and NAPPS.

Parents and students lament the disruptions

In Plateau State, where schools were also ordered to close, parents expressed fear, frustration, and sadness over the impact on their children’s education.

Pastor Steve Monye, whose children were turned back from extramural classes, said:

“I don’t feel good about it… I don’t know why the government is yet to address this problem of insurgency. Since 2015, government is still battling one issue. We are begging the government to act fast.”

Another parent, Prince Infanyi, faulted the government’s explanation for closures, saying “There is no reason to close down the schools because no insecurity should overwhelm the government. No bandit should fight the government.”

Students also expressed disappointment. Gift Steve, a student, said “I am unhappy because it will affect our calendar.”

Another student, Favour Bitrus, said “I feel sad because we have not written our exam and the school has closed. Instead of us writing it this week, we may end up writing it next week.”

A University of Jos lecturer, Dr. Jonathan Ahana, described the shutdown as a major setback.

He said “The closure is going to affect the system generally. On the part of the students, they would be demoralised, especially that some schools were about to start exams. So, with this, definitely, it is going to affect the assessment. On the part of the parents too, having paid school fees and, there were told that they should go and carry their children. For me, it is going to affect the system generally.”

Bandits abducting children as shields — Gana

A former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, has warned that the recent wave of mass abductions in parts of northern Nigeria may be a deliberate tactic by bandits who fear possible international military action following recent comments by U.S. President Trump.

Gana said indications from the pattern of attacks suggest that the criminals are now seizing schoolchildren and villagers as human shields to protect themselves from anticipated aerial strikes.

He stated this on Saturday at a reception in Abuja in honour of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, as Chairman, World Customs Organisation, and a fundraising dinner for the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

Gana disclosed that shortly before arriving at the event, he received a call suggesting that bandits may be reacting to Trump’s recent criticism of the killings in Nigeria and his declaration that America was prepared to act militarily if the situation deteriorated further.

He added that most recent abductions occurred near forested corridors, which the attackers consider safe zones if aerial operations intensify.

He urged security agencies to investigate this emerging pattern and advised the federal government to deepen international partnerships.

Speaking, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the kidnappings have attracted significant global attention, with foreign media demanding updates on casualty figures.

He, however, insisted that the priority of the federal government is securing the safe return of all abductees.

He urged Nigerians to avoid narratives that suggest insecurity is confined to one region, describing such claims as inaccurate.

DHQ probes claims of troops’ withdrawal before school abduction

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) says it has opened an investigation into claims that troops were withdrawn shortly before terrorists abducted students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi.

The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Michael Onoja, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Onoja said the allegation by the Kebbi State Governor, that terrorists struck about 30 minutes after the withdrawal of security personnel, had been noted.

He added that a thorough review was underway to establish the actual circumstances surrounding troops’ deployment and movements at the time.

According to him, operational decisions are based on intelligence and the broader security picture of the area, but stressed that any identified lapse would attract immediate corrective action.

“Troops are pursuing all actionable intelligence to ensure the safe return of the abducted students, while collaborating with state authorities, community leaders and other security agencies to strengthen protection around schools and vulnerable communities,” he said

Opposition party blames FG

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the shutdown of schools, warning they would worsen the educational crisis.

PDP spokesman Ini Ememobong said “If the schools are closed, the goal of the terrorists would have been inadvertently achieved.”

He accused the government of resorting to “a simplistic approach” and called for the urgent implementation of the National Policy on Safety, Security and Violence-Free Schools. He added that insecurity in schools would be a major “disincentivisation for education,” especially in Northern Nigeria.

He reminded government of the UNICEF estimate showing that 18.3 million Nigerian children are already out of school, mostly in the North.

Pope urges release of abducted students

Pope Leo XIV, Robert Prevost, on Sunday urged the immediate release of the abducted students, describing the news as a source of immense sadness, Vatican News reported.

“I learned with immense sadness the news of the kidnappings of priests, faithful, and students in Nigeria and Cameroon”, the Pope said during his address at the end of the Angelus prayer at the Vatican.

“I make a heartfelt appeal for the immediate release of the hostages,” Pope Leo said, expressing his deep sorrow, especially for the many young boys and girls kidnapped and for their anguished families.

“Let us pray for these brothers and sisters of ours and that churches and schools may always and everywhere remain places of safety and hope,” the Pope said.

More condemnations

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has expressed alarm over the abductions, demanding urgent action.

The UN deputy chief called for the immediate release of all those taken and emphasising the need to strengthen security measures protecting children in schools nationwide.

Mohammed, former Minister of Environment in Nigeria, stressed that those responsible for the heinous crime must be identified, arrested, and held fully accountable to prevent similar incidents and ensure justice was served.

In a social media post, the UN deputy scribe stated that schools should remain sanctuaries for learning, not targets, urging the government and communities to protect children from violence in educational settings.

Also, the World Trade Organisation Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has expressed sadness over the incidents, saying the attacks are distressing to her as a mother.

In a post on X, Okonjo-Iweala said the incidents have deepened concerns about the safety of children and teachers in schools across the country.

“As a mother, I am greatly saddened by the kidnappings in our country, particularly of our children and teachers from places of learning. My heart goes out to the children and all those kidnapped and to their families living in fear and uncertainty. May those taken be found, rescued and returned safely into the arms of those who love them. We pray to God for their protection and strength for every parent and relative waiting,” she wrote.

From Hamisu Kabir Matazu (Maiduguri), Abubakar Akote (Minna), Ismail Adebayo (Birnin Kebbi), Amina Abdullahi (Yola), Ado Abubakar (Jos), Abubakar Auwal (Sokoto), Magaji Isa Hunkuyi (Jalingo), Muideen Olaniyi, Jide Olusola, Baba Martins, Dalhatu Liman & Idowu Isamotu (Abuja).