Twenty-four schoolgirls who were abducted in Katsina State, northern Nigeria, have been released more than a week after they were taken by armed men. Local officials confirmed their return on Monday, saying the girls were freed unharmed and have been reunited with state authorities for medical checks and support.
The students were kidnapped on November 16 in the Kankara area, a region that has faced repeated attacks from armed gangs known locally as bandits. The abduction prompted widespread concern, with parents and community members calling for urgent action to secure the girls’ safe return.
Katsina State officials did not disclose how the release was secured and declined to confirm whether a ransom was paid. They said the girls were being cared for and would be handed back to their families once assessed by medical teams.
Such kidnappings have become a persistent threat across northwest and central Nigeria, where armed groups regularly target schools, villages and highways. These groups often hold victims for ransom, forcing families and local authorities into difficult negotiations.
Local leaders in Katsina welcomed the girls’ release but warned that the region remains vulnerable, urging the federal government to strengthen security around schools and rural communities. They called for long-term solutions to stop repeated attacks that continue to disrupt education and endanger children.
The Nigerian government has not issued additional details on the ongoing search for the attackers, though security forces say operations are continuing in the area. Families of the freed schoolgirls expressed relief, but many remain fearful as violence and mass abductions persist across the region.
