‘Your Govt has failed’ – Bandits claim negotiations led to Kebbi schoolgirls’ release

A new video has emerged suggesting that the Nigerian government negotiated with the bandits who abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State before their release.

Earlier reports confirmed that students of Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi, were freed on Tuesday, with authorities insisting that no ransom was paid. However, the newly surfaced clip challenges that claim, showing that a deal was reportedly struck prior to the girls’ return.

The footage, shared on X by @AM_Saleeem, features one of the armed men questioning the girls about military aircraft that had flown over the forest during their captivity. When asked how many jets they saw, the students replied, “uncountable.”

The kidnapper then bragged that the authorities could not rescue the girls by force and had to negotiate. He also asked about their condition in captivity.

“Did we leave you hungry?” one bandit asked.

“No,” the girls replied.

“Were you assaulted in any way?” he continued.

“No,” they answered.

Another kidnapper told the girls, “We will take you back home safely to your parents. We are doing this based on peace deals,” while mocking the government again, asking, “How many helicopters did you see hover around?”

At the end of the video, one of the abductors declared, “We are letting you go after negotiations. Your government cannot rescue you with might. Your government has failed.”

The clip surfaced shortly after Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, announced that all abducted students had been freed.

The girls, who were kidnapped after armed men attacked their school and killed the vice-principal, were later seen smiling inside a bus as officials prepared to transport them to Birnin Kebbi, the state capital. Authorities confirmed that the students would be handed over to their parents on Wednesday.