All 24 remaining schoolgirls abdcted from a boarding school in northwestern Nigeria have been successfully rescued, authorities announced Tuesday evening.

The operation, described as a “relentless intelligence-driven assault” on the kidnappers’ forest hideout, marks a rare victory against the escalating wave of banditry plaguing the region and comes just eight days after the harrowing raid that shocked the world.

The dramatic liberation unfolded in the dense forests bordering Kebbi, Zamfara, and Sokoto states, where local hunters, elite military units, and police tactical teams converged in a coordinated dawn raid.

According to a joint statement from the Nigerian Army and Kebbi State Police Command, the girls—ranging in age from 12 to 17—were found “unharmed but traumatized” in a makeshift camp deep within the wilderness.

No ransom was paid, officials emphasized, crediting the success to advanced surveillance, community tips, and the tireless efforts of ground forces.

“This is a testament to our unyielding commitment to the safety of every Nigerian child,” declared President Bola Tinubu in a televised address from Abuja, flanked by top security chiefs.

“The monsters who dared to steal our daughters from their beds will face the full wrath of justice. We will not rest until every shadow of fear is banished from our schools and communities.

” Tinubu’s words echoed the sentiments of Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris, who earlier in the week had vowed “no stone unturned” during a somber visit to the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town.

A Nightmare Recalled:

The Raid That Gripped a NationThe ordeal began in the pre-dawn hours of November 17, when a gang of at least 20 armed assailants on motorcycles stormed the school’s dormitory in Maga, a quiet border community in Kebbi South Senatorial District. Scaling the perimeter fence under cover of darkness, the gunmen—armed with AK-47 rifles and other sophisticated weapons—exchanged fierce gunfire with on-duty security guards before bundling 25 terrified girls into the night.

In the chaos, the school’s vice principal, Malam Ibrahim Hassan, was fatally shot while heroically shielding his students, leaving behind a wife and three young children. Another staff member was critically injured.

Eyewitness accounts from surviving students painted a scene of unimaginable terror. “They came like ghosts, shouting and firing into the air,” recounted 15-year-old Fatima Yusuf, one of two girls who evaded capture during the initial assault.

“We hid under our beds, but they dragged my friends away screaming. I ran when they turned their backs.” Another student, Aisha Mohammed, escaped captivity hours later on November 18, trekking miles through thorny underbrush to reach safety.

Her reunion with her family became a symbol of hope amid the despair, as shared in viral videos that trended across social media.Local leaders, including Senator Garba Maidoki, quickly pointed fingers at “economic terrorists”—bandit groups notorious for cattle rustling, village raids, and ransom kidnappings in the resource-rich but under-policed northwest.

Unlike the ideological fervor of groups like Boko Haram, these criminals operate as opportunistic syndicates, exploiting porous borders and vast ungoverned spaces to fund their operations.

“They have no flag, no cause—just greed,” Maidoki told reporters. Intelligence sources suggested the gang may have originated from nearby Zamfara, a longstanding hotspot for such atrocities.

The Rescue:

A Symphony of Strategy and SacrificeThe breakthrough came late Monday, November 24, following a high-level security summit in Abuja. President Tinubu, briefed by Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, ordered an immediate escalation.

Among the reinforcements was Bello Matawalle, Minister of State for Defence and former Zamfara Governor, who relocated to Birnin Kebbi on November 21 to oversee operations on the ground.

Drawing from his experience quelling similar crises—including the 2021 Jangebe school abduction of 279 girls—Matawalle coordinated with local vigilantes and drone surveillance teams.

“Hours of tracking led us to their lair,” explained Army spokesperson Col. Ahmed Mohammed in a press briefing. “Our forces, supported by community hunters who know these forests like the back of their hands, struck at first light.

The bandits scattered, but not before we secured all 24 girls and neutralized three suspects.” Two soldiers sustained minor injuries, but no further casualties were reported among the rescuers or captives.

The girls, now receiving medical and psychological care at a secure facility in Birnin Kebbi, were reported to be in stable condition, with initial assessments revealing dehydration and minor bruises but no serious harm.

Reunions unfolded in tearful scenes broadcast live: Mothers clutching daughters they feared lost forever, fathers whispering prayers of thanks. “My baby is back—Allah is great,” sobbed Hajiya Zainab Bello, mother of 14-year-old rescuer Sara.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited grieving families last week, returned Tuesday to lead a state reception, where the girls were honored with national flags and promises of scholarships to continue their education uninterrupted.

At least 11 residents of Isapa, a community close to Eruku in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, have been abducted.

The attack happened barely 24 hours after victims abducted during a church service were released.

A Christ Apostolic Church in Ekuru was holding a thanksgiving service to celebrate the freedom of 18 worshippers kidnapped about a month ago when gunmen broke in and abducted 38 persons after gunning down three.

The fresh attack, which occurred around 6:00 p.m. yesterday, it was gathered, was carried out by an estimated 20 to 30 terrorists.

They reportedly fired sporadically as they advanced, forcing residents to flee for safety.

An elderly woman was reportedly hit by a stray bullet during the incident.

A community leader, who confirmed the development under strict anonymity, said “eleven people were kidnapped, seven of them from the same household.

“The victims include a pregnant woman, two nursing mothers, and several young children”, he said.

Those abducted were identified as Talatu Kabiru, 20; Magaji, 6; Kande, 5; Hadiza, 10; Mariam, 6; Saima, 5; a housewife, Habibat; another housewife, Fatima Yusufu; a pregnant woman, Sarah Sunday, 22; a nursing mother, Lami Fidelis, 23; and another nursing mother, Haja Na Allah.

Eyewitnesses said the gunmen moved through sections of the town, leaving bullet holes in walls and doors.

Expended AK-47 shells were later recovered from several points in the community after the attackers retreated with their captives.

It was gathered that the situation has heightened tension across Isapa and surrounding settlements as security agencies and local vigilante groups intensify efforts to locate the kidnappers and rescue the victims.

Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, confirmed the incident, saying, “Yes, there was an incident, but I cannot say much now. I am about to enter Isapa from Ilorin. I will update you when I get there.”

Nigeria is currently witnessing one of its worse security crisis in history.

This has led to mass closure of schools, especially in the North.

……Awards N5m Compensation and Medicare.

Barely one month after directing the payment of N10 million compensation to Abuja businesswoman Mrs Chineze Ozoadibe, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the immediate release of Mr Kenneth Okechukwu Nwafor from Isuikwuato LGA, Abia State, who has been in detention since July 2022 over alleged links to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Mr Nwafor was also awarded N5 million in compensation and granted free medical care. Credible security sources disclosed that a comprehensive review of inherited cases exonerated him completely.

In the same vein, three other Abia indigenes – Udemba, Onyedikachi and Eze – earlier detained on similar IPOB-related allegations have been released after investigations cleared them.

A senior DSS source told journalists: “The DG gave a standing order for thorough case-by-case reviews of all pending and inherited detentions to ensure justice and due process. Mr Nwafor’s case is one of many that have been resolved under this directive.

”The source described the actions as evidence of Mr Ajayi’s commitment to the rule of law, accountability and swift remediation of operational errors.

Since assuming office, the DSS boss has overseen several high-profile compensations, including:- N20 million (double the court-awarded N10 million) to a Jos businessman mistakenly shot in the leg during a 2016 operation;- N10 million to Mrs Ozoadibe last month;- Additional N10 million shared among five other wrongly accused persons in the same matter.

“Mr Ajayi believes that when mistakes occur, the honourable thing is to correct them promptly and fairly and transparently. That culture is now firmly established in the Service,” the source added.

The latest releases and compensations have been widely seen as part of ongoing reforms to restore public trust in the agency.