A schoolgirl abducted along with 24 others from a dormitory in northwestern Nigeria has escaped and is reported safe, the principal of the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi state, told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The abduction occurred before dawn on Monday, when gunmen attacked the school dormitory. Local police said the attackers scaled the fence, exchanged fire with security officers, and seized the students, killing a staff member in the process.

Hunters and security forces continue to search nearby forests for the remaining 24 students. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but analysts and local residents say armed gangs frequently target schools, travelers, and remote villages to demand ransoms.

Authorities note that the bandits are often former herders who have taken up arms following conflicts with farming communities over scarce resources.