Armed militants holding abducted schoolgirls from Kebbi State have publicly rejected the Nigerian government’s claim that a coordinated security operation led to the children’s release. In a video circulating online, the captors insisted the girls were freed only after what they described as discussions with “important people,” not through any rescue effort by state forces. The footage has intensified debate about the worsening security crisis in Nigeria’s northwest and the government’s limited ability to respond effectively.

The video, published by SaharaReporters and authenticated through timestamps recited by the students, shows several schoolgirls seated on bare ground under the supervision of gunmen. The captors instructed the girls to state the current date, a tactic sometimes used by armed groups to prove that footage is recent. The schoolgirls appeared unharmed, though visibly anxious as masked militants questioned them directly on camera.

Much of the video appears designed to present the captors as protectors rather than aggressors, a narrative commonly used by insurgent and bandit groups seeking legitimacy. One militant asked the girls whether they had been mistreated or molested during captivity. The students responded that they were not. The militant pressed further, asking if they had been threatened, starved or sexually harassed by anyone in the camp. Again, the girls answered no.

Militants have used this strategy in previous abduction cases, attempting to frame their actions as nonviolent despite kidnapping being a criminal and violent act in itself. Analysts argue that such propaganda aims to soften public anger, reduce pressure for military retaliation and strengthen the group’s leverage in negotiations.

WATCH: Terrorists In New Video Tell Kebbi Schoolgirls 'We Are Releasing You, Government Did Not Rescue You' pic.twitter.com/WQFmP5GvW9

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) November 26, 2025

The video also revealed details that will likely raise new questions for security officials. Several of the armed men were dressed in what appeared to be military-style uniforms and were seen with brand-new motorcycles and high-grade rifles. These visuals align with previous reports that many armed groups in the northwest have acquired increasingly sophisticated equipment, enabling them to carry out attacks with alarming mobility and efficiency.

At one point, the militant promised the girls that they would be released peacefully, saying they would be allowed to go home “by God’s grace.” He also stated that the students remained in “good condition,” a claim that could not be independently verified.

What has caused the most friction is the captors’ repeated insistence that the government had no hand in securing the schoolgirls’ freedom. Instead, they claimed that confidential talks with powerful individuals, whom they refused to identify, were responsible for the negotiated release. The militant mocked the Nigerian authorities, suggesting that the government took undue credit for an outcome it did not influence.

In recent years, several abduction cases across northern Nigeria have been resolved through negotiations involving local intermediaries, traditional rulers, community leaders or wealthy individuals rather than federal authorities. Critics argue that this approach empowers armed groups, deepens impunity and erodes trust in the state. Others insist that in areas where the government struggles to project security, such informal negotiations remain the only realistic way to save lives.

Officials in Abuja have not yet issued a detailed response to the insurgents’ claims. The Ministry of Information previously announced that the schoolgirls were recovered through coordinated efforts by security forces, but provided no operational details. This lack of transparency has fueled skepticism, especially as similar disputes have emerged in past kidnapping cases.

Security experts warn that if the captors’ version of events is accurate, it underscores significant gaps in Nigeria’s counterinsurgency strategy. The presence of militants in new uniforms, carrying fresh weapons and moving in large groups without interception suggests worsening vulnerabilities in border patrols, intelligence gathering and rapid response.

The abduction of schoolchildren remains one of the most traumatic features of Nigeria’s insecurity crisis. From Chibok to Dapchi to Kankara, hundreds of students have been taken in mass kidnappings that often end through opaque negotiations rather than robust rescue operations. Each new incident further erodes public confidence in the state’s ability to protect schools, communities and vulnerable populations.

In Kebbi, residents say anxiety remains high despite reports of the girls’ release. Many communities fear renewed attacks and remain uncertain about the terms of the so-called peace deal referenced by the militants. Without clarity, analysts say, such agreements risk encouraging more abductions as armed groups test the limits of their leverage.

For now, the conflicting narratives highlight a deeper problem. With insecurity accelerating across the northwest, the Nigerian government must contend not only with armed groups controlling territory, but also with those increasingly shaping public perception. When militants confidently dispute official statements and support their claims with video proof, the information battle becomes as critical as the military one.

A senior security analyst in Abuja noted that “the most worrying part is that these groups now speak as though they are parallel authorities. It shows the degree to which state influence has weakened in some regions.”

With officials yet to address the insurgents’ claims and communities still reeling from repeated attacks, pressure is mounting for a more transparent, coordinated and sustained national security response.