On Monday, an armed attack was carried out at the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, located in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. During the incident, Vice Principal Hassan Makuku was killed, and 25 female students were abducted by armed assailants. The attack reportedly commenced around 3:00 a.m., prompting widespread concern among parents, school staff, and community members regarding the welfare of the missing students.
Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigerian military, have initiated a search-and-rescue operation aimed at apprehending the perpetrators and recovering the abducted students. Eyewitnesses and parents who visited the school reported that the attackers operated for an extended period without resistance before fleeing into nearby forested areas with the abducted individuals.
Several witnesses recounted the events of the attack. The school hostel matron, Hajia Maryam Bello, reported that the assailants attempted to gain entry to her residence but were unsuccessful before proceeding to the students’ hostel. Parents described harrowing scenes of children hiding and narrowly avoiding abduction. The wife of the deceased Vice Principal provided testimony indicating that the assailants had forcibly entered her home prior to targeting the school.
In response to the incident, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, directed troops from Operation FANSAN YANMA to intensify efforts to locate and secure the safe return of the abducted students. Security forces, supported by local vigilantes and hunters, are conducting coordinated operations across forested areas in Kebbi and neighboring Zamfara State. Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris affirmed that all available resources would be deployed to facilitate the recovery of the abducted students.
The Nigerian Senate, through motions raised by Senators including Yahaya Abdullahi, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Victor Umeh, condemned the attack and called for effective security measures for educational institutions nationwide. Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the necessity of a coordinated national response and ordered a closed-door session to discuss further measures.
International and national organizations, including UNICEF, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, publicly condemned the attack. UNICEF called for the immediate release of the abducted students and highlighted the legal obligation to protect children and educational personnel under both national and international law. The NBA described the incident as “a horrific act of violence” and demanded urgent governmental action, including coordinated rescue efforts, investigation of intelligence lapses, prosecution of collaborators, and implementation of enhanced security measures for schools.
The Kebbi State Government also refuted reports suggesting that security personnel were withdrawn prior to the attack, describing such claims as false and politically motivated. Efforts by the government to strengthen security in the state include the deployment of patrol vehicles, motorcycles for local security operations, and the establishment of additional military bases.
The abduction and killing have heightened tensions within the community, with families expressing ongoing concern for the safety of students and educators. Prayer sessions and community-led support initiatives are underway as security forces continue the search operation.#newsafro_
