A disturbing new video has emerged revealing that the Nigerian government negotiated with the armed bandits who abducted students of Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State—contradicting official claims that no deal or ransom was involved in their release.
The footage, shared on X by user @AM_Saleeem, shows armed abductors speaking with the schoolgirls shortly before their release. One of the bandits is heard questioning the girls about military aircraft that flew over the forest during their captivity.
“How many jets passed above you?” he asked.
“Uncountable,” the girls responded.
The kidnapper then mocked the authorities, boasting that security forces were unable to rescue the students by force.
“We are letting you go after negotiations. Your government cannot rescue you with might. Your government has failed,” he declared.
The captors further asked the girls whether they were starved or assaulted, to which they responded “No.”
“We will take you back home safe to your parents; we are doing this based on peace deals,” another gunman added.
The video surfaced just hours after Kebbi State governor Nasir Idris and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, announced that all abducted students had been freed, insisting no ransom was paid.
The girls were kidnapped when armed men invaded their school, killing the vice-principal before taking dozens of students into the bush.
Following their release, the students were seen smiling inside a bus as officials prepared to transport them to Birnin Kebbi, where they are expected to be reunited with their parents today (Wednesday).
The emergence of the video has sparked renewed questions about government transparency in handling abductions and the growing influence of armed groups across the country.
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