ABUJA, Nov 26, (Xinhua): Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday confirmed the release of 24 schoolgirls abducted by suspected terrorists in the northern part of the country over a week ago. "I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for," Tinubu said in a statement late Tuesday, after local authorities announced that the students had been released unhurt.

The girls were kidnapped from their dormitory at the Government Girls' Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, a community in the WasaguDanko Local Government Area of Kebbi, on Nov 17. The Kebbi state governor, Nasir Idris, told the media that the schoolgirls were "all in good health" and arrangements had been made for them to reunite with their families.

The abduction had sparked copycat incidents in the central part of the country last week, including the kidnapping of 38 worshippers during service at a local church in Kwara and over 300 students at another school in the state of Niger. All the kidnapped worshippers and 51 of the students were released on Sunday. "Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping," the president said.