Kebbi LG chair refutes Christian abduction claims, names kidnapped schoolgirls

The Chairman of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, Hussaini Aliyu, on Wednesday dismissed a claim by United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, alleging that the abduction of schoolgirls in Maga occurred in a Christian community.

As reported by Channels TV, Aliyu said all the abducted girls are Muslims and urged the lawmaker to refrain from making unverifiable comments capable of causing religious or ethnic tension at a time when government efforts are focused on rescuing the victims.

He added that the Zuru Emirate, under which the Maga community falls, had never experienced a religious crisis.

He questioned why the US lawmaker chose to issue remarks that could portray Nigeria negatively.

Aliyu released the names of the abducted girls as follows:

Senior Secondary School 2A

Fatima Sani Zimri

Hafsat Ibrahim

Nana Firdausi Jibril

Masauda Yakubu Romo

Senior Secondary School 2B

5. Hauwa Saleh
6. Hauwau Umar Imam

Senior Secondary School 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 3A

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

Junior Secondary School 2

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

Aliyu’s denial follows a social media post by Riley urging his followers to pray for the 25 girls, claiming he had been informed that the attack occurred in a “Christian enclave” in Northern Nigeria, although he said he did not have full details.

Please join me in praying for the 25 girls who have been kidnapped and for the repose of the soul of their vice principal, who was killed. While we don’t have all the details on this horrific attack, we know that the attack occurred in a Christian enclave in Northern Nigeria. The Nigerian government must do more to end the rampant violence,” he wrote on Tuesday.

The attack on the Kebbi school on Monday morning led to the death of the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, who was reportedly killed while attempting to stop the gunmen from abducting the students.

One of the girls has reportedly escaped, while the police authorities said a combined tactical team had been deployed to comb the forest in an effort to rescue the girls.

President Bola Tinubu, who condemned the attack and commiserated with the families of those affected, postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, where he was to attend the 20th G20 Summit of Leaders and the 7th AU-EU Summit.

He also directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State and meet with affected families on his behalf.