“They are not Christians”: LG chairman releases names of 25 kidnapped schoolgirls in Kebbi (Full List)

The Chairman of Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi state, Hussaini Aliyu, has released the names of the 25 schoolgirls abducted in the state, refuting claims that they are all Christians.

On Monday, gunmen stormed Government Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killed a teacher, and abducted at least 25 schoolchildren.

One of the girls has reportedly escaped, while the police authorities said a combined tactical team had been deployed to comb the forest in an effort to rescue the girls.

Many Nigerians have, in the aftermath of the incident, intensified demands for a rescue and tighter security for Nigerians in the North.

But the conversation took a different turn abroad after Riley Moore, a lawmaker representing West Virginia’s 2nd District in the United States Congress, described the location of the attack as a “Christian enclave”.

Moore posted on his X page on Tuesday: “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.”

Moore’s claim aligns with the broader narrative of Christian persecution in northern Nigeria, which has influenced President Donald Trump’s perceptions of terror in the country.

However, as reported by Channels TV, Danko-Wasagu LG Chairman, Hussaini Aliyu, dismissed a claim credited to U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore alleging that the abduction of the Maga school girls took place in a Christian enclave.

Aliyu clarified that all the abducted school girls are Muslims, describing the comment as misleading and capable of sowing unnecessary religious tension at a time when government efforts are focused on securing the girls’ release.

He stressed that the Zuru Emirate, under which the Maga community falls, has a long history of peaceful coexistence and has never experienced religious crises.

He therefore urged the U.S. lawmaker to refrain from making unverified statements that portray Nigeria negatively or undermine national unity.

Here is the full list of 25 abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi State

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. Hauwa’u 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
22. Khadija Nazifi
23. Hauwa’u Iliyasu
24. Hauwa’u Lawali
25. Ummu Kulsum Abdulkarim

Meanwhile, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who condemned the attack and commiserated with the families of those affected, postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, where he was to attend the 20th G20 Summit of Leaders and the 7th AU-EU Summit.

He also directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State and meet with affected families on his behalf.