The 24 students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi state have regained their freedom.

Security sources confirmed their rescue to TheCable on Tuesday, though full details of the operation are still being compiled.

An official announcement is expected later tonight, according to authorities familiar with the situation.

The abduction occurred on November 17 when bandits attacked the school, killing an official and injuring a security guard before escaping with 25 female students.

A BBC report noted that two of the girls had earlier escaped. Citing Hussaini Aliyu, an official of Danko Wasagu LGA, the report stated that the students fled while being led through the bush and managed to cross surrounding farmland to safety.

On November 19, Hussaini Aliyu, chairman of the Danko/Wasagu LGA, released the names of the 25 abducted students.

The list, obtained by TheCable, arranged the names according to their respective class groups.

Following the incident, Bello Sani, commissioner of police in Kebbi, announced the deployment of additional police tactical units, along with military personnel and vigilante groups, to intensify the search for the missing students.

Sani said the joint team was combing suspected escape corridors and nearby forests in an extensive search-and-rescue effort aimed at locating the girls and apprehending those responsible.

Waidi Shaibu, chief of army staff (COAS), also directed troops under Operation FANSAN YANMA to pursue all leads in the ongoing rescue mission.

President Bola Tinubu instructed Bello Matawalle, minister of state for defence, to relocate to Kebbi in response to the abduction.

Tinubu ordered Matawalle to move to the state “to monitor security efforts to secure the release of the abducted students”.

The Special Protection Unit (SPU) of the Nigeria Police Force has directed all personnel assigned to VIPs and special beats across the country to report back to their respective bases.

The order follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive of November 23 mandating the immediate withdrawal of police officers serving as escorts to VIPs nationwide.

According to a memo signed by Neji Veronica, commanding officer of SPU Base 16 in Lagos, and circulated by the presidency on X, every affected officer was instructed to return before the close of work on November 24.

The SPU command stated that the directive takes effect without delay and must be followed by all personnel concerned.

The memo read that, “Sequel to the directive of Mr President and C-in-C of the armed forces on the withdrawal of Police personnel attached to VIPs, the Commanding Officer directs with immediate effect the withdrawal of all personnel of SPU Base 16 attached to VIPs/Beats across the federation back to Base.”

It further added that officers must report back “before the end of today Monday, 24/11/2025” and attend a Lecture Parade the following day, with attendance recorded from the nominal roll. The command emphasised that the directive is “for your information and strict compliance.”

Under the new arrangement outlined by the presidency, VIPs who require official protection are expected to obtain armed escorts from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), not the police.

The presidency explained that the shift is intended to strengthen policing in underserved communities, particularly remote areas where stations are understaffed and residents face heightened security risks. It noted that many rural communities “have few policemen at the stations, thus making the task of protecting and defending the people difficult,” adding that the president wants officers “to concentrate on their core police duties”.

To reinforce the policy, the president approved the recruitment of 30,000 additional police officers nationwide, with plans underway to expand and upgrade training facilities in collaboration with state governments.

Ayo Fayose, former governor of Ekiti State, has said he became deeply upset during his 65th birthday celebration after remarks made by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, adding that the comments provoked him so strongly that he briefly felt like grabbing the microphone from the former president and striking him with it.

Fayose made the disclosure in a new interview in which he outlined the events surrounding preparations for the celebration and the exchanges that took place on the day.

He said that during the ceremony in Lagos, Obasanjo revisited their long-standing political rift and described him as “not the best” among his protégés, even while acknowledging his achievements in politics.

Fayose explained that two weeks before the event, he had made a personal decision to reconcile with several people he had clashed with over the years.

“Whatever differences we have had in the past, let’s put it behind. If I have offended you, if you have offended me, let us put it behind,” he said.

He stated that he contacted Obasanjo through a mutual associate, identified as Osita, who shared the former president’s phone number with him.

However, Fayose emphasised that the call to Obasanjo was not intended as an apology.
“I never called to go and apologise to Baba. I did not offend him. He was the one that removed me from office. If anybody should apologise, it is him,” he said.

He added that Obasanjo received him at his residence days before the celebration and expressed willingness to attend the birthday even though he had another scheduled engagement in Rwanda.

Fayose said Obasanjo also asked for assistance with travel arrangements, and in response, he provided funds to support the logistics.

“We took pictures together. All in good faith,” he said.

“I changed $20,000 and gave it to him. How can you accept somebody’s money and come and be spiting that person?”

Fayose said his concerns began when Obasanjo insisted that he should speak last at the event rather than the vice-president.

“Baba said he would be the one to speak last. I became suspicious,” he said.

According to him, Obasanjo later directed the programme moderator to invite the vice-president before him, after which he requested that Fayose and his wife stand beside him for a speech that lasted “one hour, 14 minutes”.

Fayose described the address as containing indirect criticisms.

“How do you say such things to a man on his 65th birthday?” he asked.

He said this was the point at which his frustration reached its peak.

“I was enraged. I felt like taking the mic from Obasanjo’s hand and hitting it on his head. This is being sincere,” he narrated.

He said he restrained himself out of respect for the office of the vice-president and a desire to maintain composure.

“But to show maturity, not by age, and the love I have for myself and the presence of the vice-president, I just kept my cool.”

Fayose said his attempt to reconcile was made “in good conscience”, but that Obasanjo’s conduct indicated he was not interested in a peaceful resolution.

“If I knew this was how it would end, what do I need Obasanjo for? Am I contesting election? Do I need his validation? No,” he said.