The Chairman of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, Hussaini Aliyu, has released the names of 25 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, and dismissed claims by US lawmaker Riley Moore suggesting that the abduction occurred in a Christian area.

Aliyu clarified that all the abducted students are Muslims and urged the lawmaker to refrain from making unverified statements that could inflame religious or ethnic tensions at a time when government efforts are focused on rescuing the girls.

He noted that the Maga community, under the Zuru Emirate, has never experienced a religious crisis and questioned why the US lawmaker would make remarks that portray Nigeria negatively.

The chairman also released the names of the abducted girls:

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

Politics Nigeria recalls that the attack on Monday morning claimed the life of the Vice Principal, who was reportedly killed while attempting to prevent the bandits from abducting the girls. The police have deployed a combined tactical team to comb the surrounding forests in a bid to rescue the students.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu condemned the attack and extended condolences to the families of those affected. He also postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, for the 20th G20 Summit and the 7th AU–EU Summit, respectively.

Tinubu further directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi and meet with affected families on his behalf.