The Chairman of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area in Kebbi State, located in North-West Nigeria, Hussaini Aliyu, has rejected claims made by Riley Moore, a lawmaker from the United States of America, who alleged that the recent abduction of students in the Maga community took place in a Christian-majority area. Aliyu insisted that the assertion was inaccurate and capable of stoking unnecessary religious tension at a time when Nigerian authorities are focused on rescuing the victims.
Speaking on Wednesday, Aliyu noted that every student taken by the armed attackers belongs to the Muslim community. He stressed that such distinctions matter greatly because Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, has long battled misinformation capable of aggravating inter-religious harmony. He therefore urged Moore to avoid issuing statements that are not backed by verified evidence, especially when addressing sensitive incidents involving minors.
According to him, the Zuru Emirate, which is the traditional governance authority overseeing the Maga community, has no record of religious crises and has historically maintained peaceful coexistence among its people.
Okay News reports that Aliyu questioned the motive behind the United States lawmaker’s comments, asking why a foreign official would choose to make remarks that could shape global perception of Nigeria in a negative light.
To ensure clarity and transparency, Aliyu provided the list of the abducted students, categorised according to their respective classes:
Senior Secondary School Two A (SSS 2A)
Fatima Sani Zimri
Hafsat Ibrahim
Nana Firdausi Jibril
Masauda Yakubu Romo
Senior Secondary School Two B (SSS 2B)
Hauwa Saleh
Hauwau Umar Imam
Senior Secondary School Three A and Three B (SSS 3A & SSS 3B)
Salima Garba Umar
Salima Sani Zimri
Amina G. Umar
Rashida Muhammad Dingu
Saliha Umar
Aisha Usman
Jamila Iliyasu
Maryam Illiyasu
Najaatu Abdullahi
Zainab Kolo
Junior Secondary School Three A (JSS 3A)
Surraya Tukur
Hafsat Umar Yalmo
Maryam Usman
Amina Illiyasu
Ikilima Suleman
Junior Secondary School Two (JSS 2)
Khadija Nazifi
Hauwa’u Iliyasu
Hauwa’u Lawali
Ummu Kulsum Abdulkarim
The denial came in response to a statement Moore posted on social media, where he urged people to pray for the abducted girls and claimed the attack took place in “a Christian enclave in Northern Nigeria,” despite admitting he did not yet have full details. In his words:
“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 do not 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.”
The assault on Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, which occurred on Monday morning, resulted in the death of the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, who reportedly lost his life while attempting to prevent the armed men from abducting the students.
Local reports indicate that one of the abducted girls has successfully escaped from captivity, while security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, confirmed that a combined tactical unit has been deployed to search the forest and surrounding areas in order to rescue the remaining victims.
Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, condemned the attack and expressed condolences to the families affected. The President of Nigeria also rescheduled his international engagements, postponing trips to Johannesburg in South Africa and Luanda in Angola, where he had been slated to attend the Group of Twenty Summit (G20 Summit) and the African Union–European Union Summit (AU–EU Summit). He further directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to travel to Kebbi State to visit and console the families on his behalf.
