[2] Armed criminal groups, described as "bandits" and labelled as terrorists by the Nigerian government, often carry out mass kidnappings of schoolchildren.

[8] Involving children also gains such groups publicity through notoriety, as well as restraint from harsh actions by the government.

[11][14] The gunmen also blocked all entrances into the school during the raid, preventing local vigilantes and policemen from intervening.

[12][16] The gunmen fired shots in the air; it remains unclear whether this was to scare the local population or in engagement.

[18][19][20] The state police force announced that they would conduct a search-and-rescue operation,[2] and that officers and a military contingent had been deployed to Jangebe to look for the girls.

[14] Residents of Jangebe created roadblocks in the aftermath of the kidnapping and attacked incoming vehicles using sticks and stones.

[17] Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari called the abduction "inhumane and totally unacceptable", and said that his administration will "not succumb to blackmail by bandits who target innocent school students in the expectations of huge ransom payments".

[26] Muhammadu Buhari stated that he was "pleased that their ordeal has come to a happy end without any incident,"[27] and that news of their release brought him "overwhelming joy".

[22] Security forces opened fire and deployed tear gas after mobs began throwing stones at officials outside the school in response to this,[30][31][32] including at a convoy carrying regional parliament speaker Nasiru Mu'azu Magarya.

[30] Yaro denied accusations that his men shot at parents and children, calling such reports "fake news".

[23] As a result of the incident, a dusk to dawn curfew was imposed by the Zamfara state government[22] who claimed that it was necessary to "prevent any further breach of peace".

[23] Authorities also shut markets in the town, claiming that they had found "strong evidence" that such activities were facilitating criminal operations.