The Chairman of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, Hussaini Aliyu, on Wednesday dismissed a claim by a United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, alleging that the abduction of schoolgirls in Maga occurred in a Christian community.
According to Channels TV, Aliyu said all 25 abducted students are Muslims and cautioned the lawmaker against making unverifiable comments capable of fuelling religious or ethnic tension, especially at a time when government and security agencies are focused on rescuing the victims.
He noted that the Maga community falls under the Zuru Emirate, which he said had no history of religious crisis, and wondered why the US lawmaker opted to issue remarks that could portray Nigeria negatively.
In a statement, the chairman also released the names of the abducted students as follows:
Senior Secondary School 2A
- Fatima Sani Zimri
- Hafsat Ibrahim
- Nana Firdausi Jibril
- Masauda Yakubu Romo
Senior Secondary School 2B
- Hauwa Saleh
- Hauwau Umar Imam
Senior Secondary School 3A & 3B
- Salima Garba Umar
- Salima Sani Zimri
- Amina G. Umar
- Rashida Muhammad Dingu
- Saliha Umar
- Aisha Usman
- Jamila Iliyasu
- Maryam Illiyasu
- Najaatu Abdullahi
- Zainab Kolo
Junior Secondary School 3A
- Surraya Tukur
- Hafsat Umar Yalmo
- Maryam Usman
- Amina Illiyasu
- Ikilima Suleman
Junior Secondary School 2
- Khadija Nazifi
- Hauwa’u Iliyasu
- Hauwa’u Lawali
- Ummu Kulsum Abdulkarim
Aliyu’s response followed a social media post by Moore, who urged his followers to pray for the abducted students, claiming that the attack occurred in a “Christian enclave” in northern Nigeria. The Republican lawmaker, however, noted that he did not have full details of the incident.
He wrote: “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. While we don’t have all the details on this horrific attack, we know that the attack occurred in a Christian enclave in Northern Nigeria. The Nigerian government must do more to end the rampant violence.”
Gunmen attacked the school in Kebbi State on Monday morning, killing the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, who was said to have attempted to stop the kidnappers from taking the students.
One of the girls has reportedly escaped, while the police said a combined tactical team had been deployed to comb the forest and rescue the victims.
