How FGGC Kebbi Girls Excelled In JAMB After They Were Rescued From Kidnappers

Five former students of Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Birnin Yauri, who were rescued from bandits in Kebbi State two years ago, have excelled in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

The girls, Hafsat Murtala, Faiza Ahmed, Esther Sunday, Rebecca James, and Neempere Daniel, were among the 11 students held captive by bandits for nearly two years following the June 2021 attack on their school, during which 96 students and eight teachers were abducted.

Following their release in 2023 after a N100 million ransom was paid, the Kebbi State Government enrolled the girls in private schools for security and rehabilitation purposes. Since then, their academic progress had been largely kept away from the public until their recent JAMB results were revealed.

According to the scores released by JAMB, Hafsat, Faiza, and Rebecca each scored 225, Esther scored 217, while Neempere, who faced significant trauma, scored 117.

A government official told journalists that the sponsorship of the girls began under former Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and has been sustained by his successor, Governor Nasir Idris, who also enhanced their welfare.



“The outcome of government support is evident in their JAMB results,” the official said.

According to Daily Post, it was gathered that the girls were enrolled in private schools outside the state for security reasons, and the government has also been flying them home during holidays and back to school.

Parents and guardians expressed deep emotions over the girls’ success, recalling their traumatic past. Chairman of the Parents’ Forum, Salim Kaoje, said: “Some parents died during the long wait for their daughters. Today, those children are making us proud.”

James Nwasolu-Abisi, father of Rebecca James, said, “We never thought they would bounce back after what they went through. But here they are, shining.”



Another parent, Munirat Bala, mother of Faiza Ahmad, who scored 225, said, “She is my only daughter. I want the government to support them up to university level.”



Mrs. Tafia Daniel Alkali, whose daughter Neempere scored 117, said her husband died two weeks after their daughter’s release.

“We didn’t expect this after everything, but we thank God and the government.”