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.

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.