U.S. Lawmaker Condemns Kebbi School Abduction, Urges Nigerian Government to Act

A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, has condemned the recent abduction of 25 schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, calling on the Nigerian government to take decisive action.

In a post on X on Tuesday, Moore offered prayers for the victims and the late vice principal, who was killed during the attack. “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,” he wrote.

Moore also called on Nigerian authorities to act decisively, adding, “The Nigerian government must do more to end the rampant violence.”

The attack occurred in the early hours of Monday when heavily armed bandits stormed the school, killing the vice principal, injuring staff members, and abducting 25 students.

Moore’s description of the attack as occurring in a “Christian enclave” drew criticism from Nigerians, including Bashir Ahmad, a former Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the late President Muhammadu Buhari. Ahmad clarified that the attack took place in a Muslim community and that the victims were Muslims, warning that misrepresentations risked inflaming fragile national unity.

The exchange comes amid ongoing debates between Nigerian and US officials over claims of “Christian genocide” in parts of the country, a narrative consistently rejected by Nigerian authorities.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has pledged to ensure the safe return of the abducted students, expressing deep concern and reaffirming its commitment to bringing the girls home safely.