THE 24 schoolgirls held by assailants following a mass abduction last week from a school in north-western Nigeria have been rescued, the country’s president announced on Tuesday.

A total of 25 girls were abducted on November 17 from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi state’s Maga town, but one of them was able to escape the same day, the school’s principal said.

The remaining 24 were all rescued, according to a statement from President Bola Tinubu, though no details were released about the rescue

“I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for. Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping,” President Tinubu said.

The attack in Kebbi was among a spate of recent mass abductions in Nigeria, including a raid on Friday on the Saint Mary’s School in north-central Niger state in which more than 300 students and staff from the Catholic school were abducted.

Fifty students escaped over the weekend.

Abdulkarim Abdullahi, whose two daughters aged 12 and 13 were among those abducted, said: “I am excited to receive the news of their freedom, the past few days have been difficult for me and my family, especially their mother.”