The Chairman of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, Hussaini Aliyu, has pushed back against a statement by U.S. Congressman Riley Moore, insisting that the recent abduction of Maga schoolgirls has no religious undertone and should not be framed as such.
He argued that such claims risk inflaming tensions at a time when authorities are concentrating on securing the girls’ release.
Aliyu explained that every student taken by the attackers is Muslim, stressing that the community has long been known for peaceful co-existence irrespective of faith or ethnicity.
Furthermore, he described Moore’s comment as “reckless and unnecessary,” adding that the foreign lawmaker’s remarks only distort the realities on the ground.
The chairman noted that the Maga community remains under the Zuru Emirate, a region he described as historically stable and free from religious conflict.
According to him, any attempt to paint the area as divided “does not reflect truth nor history.”
He questioned why an external figure would offer commentary that “casts Nigeria in a bad light” without consulting verified sources.
Moreover, he urged public figures to avoid fueling tension, saying the priority should be supporting rescue efforts. “This is a moment for solidarity, not division,” he said.
Aliyu also made public the names of all 25 abducted students, spread across various classes in the secondary school.
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
Moreover, Aliyu appealed for patience and unity as security agencies intensify operations. The broader context of the crisis, banditry, pressure on rural schools, and regional insecurity, continues to shape national debate and may influence future policy decisions.