The Kebbi State Government has dismissed as false and misleading the claim by U.S. Congressman Riley M. Moore that the recent abduction at Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area occurred in a Christian enclave.
According to the state, Maga is predominantly Muslim, and the majority of the abducted students are Muslims. The claim, reported by Daily Post on November 18, 2025, misrepresents the facts on the ground.
Banditry Targets Victims Indiscriminately
The government emphasized that banditry in Northwestern Nigeria affects communities regardless of religion. “These criminal groups do not discriminate based on religion,” the statement said. Officials cited past attacks, including a massacre of worshippers in a mosque near Malumfashi in Katsina State, to illustrate that Muslims are often victims of such violence.
The statement further explained that terrorist and bandit groups in Nigeria attack people in homes, schools, places of worship, and on transit routes, making no distinction between Muslims and Christians. Northwestern states such as Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi have suffered disproportionately from banditry.
Clarifying Facts for the Global Community
The Kebbi State Government urged international actors, including Rep. Moore, to verify information before making public statements. The government stressed that misrepresenting the religious composition of affected communities could distort facts and exacerbate misunderstanding about security challenges in Nigeria.