Quick Summary:
KebbiSchoolAbduction2025 as U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore condemns the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State, urging Nigerian authorities to act decisively while his remarks spark debate over religious misrepresentation.
United States lawmaker Riley Moore has strongly condemned the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
The attack, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, left the vice principal dead and 25 female students kidnapped after heavily armed bandits stormed the school premises. Several staff members were also injured during the assault.
Reacting on X (formerly Twitter), Moore expressed deep concern over the growing insecurity affecting schools in northern Nigeria.
“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.
Controversy Over Religious Description
In his post, Moore described the attack as having occurred in a “Christian enclave” in northern Nigeria, a statement that quickly drew criticism online.
Bashir Ahmad, a former aide to late President Muhammadu Buhari, corrected the lawmaker, clarifying that the incident took place in a Muslim community and that the victims were also Muslims.
“While appreciating your concern and praying for our sisters, it is important to correct a crucial detail here — the attack did not occur in a Christian enclave,” Ahmad stated.
He added that such misrepresentations risk fueling divisive narratives that could further strain Nigeria’s fragile unity.
Broader Context and Government Response
The exchange comes amid renewed discussions between Nigerian and U.S. officials over claims of a so-called “Christian genocide” in Nigeria — a narrative that Nigerian authorities have consistently rejected.
Moore urged the Nigerian government to “do more to end the rampant violence” that continues to claim lives and destabilize communities.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has assured that every effort is being made to rescue the abducted girls. Officials said they “share in the pain of the victims” and are working closely with security agencies to track the kidnappers in nearby forests and surrounding areas.
