Matawalle: Number of kidnapped Jangebe schoolgirls is 279 — not 317

Bello Matawalle, governor of Zamfara state, says some persons attempted to sabotage efforts to release the abducted students.

He also said contrary to earlier figures released by the police, 279 — not 317 — schoolgirls were abducted.

This brings to 1,119 the total number of students kidnapped in the north since April 2014.

The initial figure from Zamfara had jacked up the number by 38, giving a total of 1,157.

Suspected bandits had attacked the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara LGA, on February 26 and kidnapped hundreds of students.

They were, however, released on Tuesday.

Announcing their release, the governor said no ransom was paid to the abductors.

He said while the government was negotiating the release of the girls, some persons offered the bandits money to keep them in captivity.

He did not disclose their names.

“While the state was in negotiation with the abductors for the release of the schoolgirls, other persons wanted the armed bandits to keep the girls in captivity,” Matawalle said.

1,119 Students Kidnapped in Seven Years

• April 14/15, 2014: 276 at Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state
• Feb 19, 2018: 113 at Government Girls Secondary and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state
• Dec 11, 2020: 344 at Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina state
• Dec 20, 2020: 80 at Islamiyya schools, Mahuta town, Katsina state
• Feb 17, 2021: 27 at the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger state
• Feb 26, 2021: 279 at Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Zamfara state