Kebbi State governor, Nasir Idris, has confirmed that the 24 students rescued from bandits are in good health and will soon be reunited with their families.
The governor spoke during a press briefing at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi after security agencies successfully secured the students’ release.
He expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and all security operatives who took part in the operation, describing their efforts as “commendable and timely.”
Governor Idris explained that early reports from officials who received the children showed that the students were calm, stable, and responding well after days in captivity.
“From the information we have right now, the children are on their way back and they are all fine,” he said, reassuring parents and the public that there was no cause for fear.
He also made it clear that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers, addressing a concern often raised in cases of abductions.
“We checked to confirm if any ransom was paid, and from everything we gathered, no money was given. As a government, we didn’t pay a single naira, and the security officers who went to receive them also said they didn’t take any money,” the governor stated.
He added that arrangements had already been made to hand the children over to their parents the following day.
The students were abducted last week from the Girls’ Secondary School in Maga, an incident that caused fear and outrage across the state. Their rescue comes as a relief to families, community leaders, and education stakeholders who had been calling for stronger security around schools.
The governor promised that the government would continue working with security agencies to prevent future attacks, improve safety around learning environments, and ensure that children can go to school without fear.
