The Chairman of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area in Kebbi State, Hussaini Aliyu, has rejected claims by U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore that the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, occurred in a Christian area.
Aliyu stressed that all the abducted students are Muslims and urged the lawmaker to refrain from making unverifiable statements capable of dividing the nation along religious or ethnic lines at a time when government efforts are focused on rescuing the girls.
Riley Moore, in a post on X, had called for prayers for the kidnapped students while claiming knowledge that the attack took place in a Christian enclave in Northern Nigeria, though he admitted not having detailed information on the incident. He wrote:
“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 don’t 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.”
Responding to Moore, Aliyu noted that the Zuru Emirate, under which Maga falls, has never experienced a religious crisis and questioned why the U.S. lawmaker would make comments portraying Nigeria negatively.
The chairman then released the names of the 25 abducted girls:
Senior Secondary School 2A
1. Fatima Sani Zimri
2. Hafsat Ibrahim
3. Nana Firdausi Jibril
4. 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
The attack, which occurred on Monday morning, claimed the life of the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, who was reportedly killed while trying to prevent the bandits from abducting the students.
