A fresh video has emerged suggesting that the release of the abducted schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, followed negotiations between the kidnappers and government officials
The girls, kidnapped last week after gunmen invaded the school and killed the vice-principal, were freed on Tuesday.
Authorities had maintained that no ransom was paid and that the government secured their release without concessions.
However, according to Daily Post, the newly surfaced footage, circulated on X by @AM_Saleeem, showed the abductors questioning the students about military aircraft that reportedly flew over the forest during their captivity.
The schoolgirls confirmed that several jets hovered over the area.
In the video, the armed men repeatedly taunted the government while engaging the girls in conversation about their treatment in captivity.
He asked how many jets passed above them, and the girls respond, “uncountable.”
The kidnapper then boasted that the authorities could not rescue the students by force and had to negotiate.
The abductors also asked the girls about their condition in captivity.
“Did we leave you hungry?” one bandit asked.
“No,” the girls replied.
“Were you assaulted in any way?” he asked again.
“No,” they answered.
Another kidnapper told them, “We will take you back home safe to your parents, we are doing this based on peace deals.”
He also mocked the government again, asking, “How many helicopters did you see hover around?” The students replied that they could not count them.
At the end of the video, one of the abductors declared, “We are letting you go after negotiations. Your government cannot rescue you with might. Your government has failed.”
The footage surfaced barely hours after Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris and Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle confirmed that all abducted students had regained freedom.
Officials said the students will be reunited with their families today (Wednesday).