Girl Escapes as Hunt for 24 Abducted Nigerian Schoolmates Continues

A schoolgirl who was abducted with 24 others from a dormitory in northwestern Nigeria has escaped and is safe, the school's principal told The Associated Press on Tuesday, as hunters joined security forces in the search for the missing students in forests close to the school. According to local police, the girls were kidnapped before dawn on Monday, when gunmen attacked the dorm at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi state's Maga town. The attackers scaled the fence to enter the school premises and exchanged gunfire with police officers before seizing the girls and killing a staff member. The principal of the school, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that one of the abducted girls managed to escape and has been reunited with her family. "We are relieved that one of our students has been found safe, but we are still concerned about the 24 others who are missing," the principal said. The Nigerian government has deployed security forces, including the military and police, to search for the missing students. Hunters from the local community have also joined the search efforts, scouring the forests near the school for any signs of the abducted girls. The attack on the school has sparked widespread condemnation from local and international communities. The Nigerian government has promised to do everything in its power to rescue the missing students and bring the perpetrators to justice. The Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School is one of the largest schools in Kebbi state, with over 1,000 students. The school has a reputation for providing quality education to girls from disadvantaged backgrounds. The abduction of the schoolgirls is the latest in a series of attacks on schools and educational institutions in Nigeria. In recent years, several schools have been targeted by armed groups, resulting in the deaths of students and staff members. The Nigerian government has vowed to take decisive action to protect schools and students from further attacks. The Minister of Education, who wished to remain anonymous, said that the government is working closely with security agencies to ensure the safe return of the missing students. "We will do everything in our power to rescue the missing students and bring the perpetrators to justice," the minister said. The search for the missing students is ongoing, with security forces and hunters continuing to scour the forests near the school for any signs of the abducted girls. The Nigerian government has appealed to the international community for assistance in locating the missing students and bringing the perpetrators to justice.