Terrorists Release Video Disputing Government’s Rescue Claim in Kebbi Schoolgirls’ Case

By Diafa Doubra, Warri.

A new video released by the armed group behind the abduction of schoolgirls from Maga community in Kebbi State has openly challenged the official account given by the Nigerian government. In the footage, shared with SaharaReporters, the girls are seen lined up on the ground, surrounded by armed militants. One of the captors instructs them to state the current date, a deliberate attempt to prove the video’s authenticity and contradict claims that the girls had been rescued earlier by security forces. The setting, tone and composure of the abductors suggest they were seeking to establish control of the narrative.

The militants go further by mocking the government’s assertion of a rescue operation. They demand that the girls confirm whether they saw jets, security agents or any form of military intervention, to which the girls respond “no.” One of the gunmen declares that the government “did not secure their release,” insisting instead that the girls were freed because of an ongoing dialogue involving unnamed “important people.” This part of the video appears intended to portray the group as negotiating from a position of strength, while undermining official statements that no deals or concessions were made.

The video has intensified scrutiny of the government’s handling of the kidnapping and cast doubt on earlier briefings that framed the release as a successful security operation. Families of the victims and members of the public are now demanding transparent answers about what actually transpired whether negotiations were involved, who facilitated them, and what conditions were set. The incident adds to growing concerns about the frequency of school abductions and the increasing reliance on back-channel discussions rather than decisive security measures to secure victims’ freedom.