Kebbi Abduction: Families Grapple with Fear and Hope as Names of 24 Girls Are Released

For the families of the 24 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, the release of their daughters’ names has brought a mixture of relief, hope, and lingering fear.

Since the attack, communities in Maga and surrounding towns have been gripped by anxiety, as parents waited for any news of their children. The disclosure of the names by the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Chairman, Hussaini Aliyu, has at least allowed families to confirm which of the girls are accounted for and which remain unlocated.

Fatima Sani Zimri’s mother, Aisha, spoke through tears: “I have been praying day and night. Seeing her name finally listed gives me hope that she is alive. I just want her home safely.”

The full list of names, released by class, underscores the scale of the tragedy:

Senior Secondary School (SSS) 2A

1. Fatima Sani Zimri
2. Hafsat Ibrahim
3. Nana Firdausi Jibril
4. Masauda Yakubu Romo

Senior Secondary School (SSS) 2B

5. Hauwa Saleh
6. Hauwa’u Umar Imam

Senior Secondary School (SSS) 3A & 3B

7. Salima Garba Umar
8. Salima Sani Zimri
9. Amina G. Umar
10. Rashida Muhammad Dingu
11. Saliha Umar
12. Aisha Usman
13. Jamila Iliyasu
14. Maryam Illiyasu
15. Najaatu Abdullahi
16. Zainab Kolo

Junior Secondary School (JSS) 3A

17. Surraya Tukur
18. Hafsat Umar Yalmo
19. Maryam Usman
20. Amina Illiyasu
21. Ikilima Suleman

Junior Secondary School (JSS) 2

22. Khadija Nazifi
23. Hauwa’u Iliyasu
24. Hauwa’u Lawali
25. Ummu Kulsum Abdulkarim

Community leaders have organized vigils and prayer sessions for the girls, urging security agencies and residents to work together to locate any still missing. The state government has reassured citizens that the search remains a top priority.

“I have seen neighbors come together like never before,” said Imam Bello, a local community leader. “The fear is real, but so is our determination to bring these girls home safely.”

The abduction has left a deep scar on the community, with parents, teachers, and students anxiously awaiting the day when all the girls can return to their families and classrooms.