Security forces in Nigeria’s northwestern Kebbi State have launched a major operation following the abduction of dozens of schoolgirls and the death of a staff member during a pre-dawn attack on a boarding school. Police confirmed that armed assailants, described as “terrorists” by local authorities, stormed the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, in the early hours of Monday morning. The attack, which occurred around 4:00 am (0300 GMT), saw the attackers force their way into the premises.
Casualties: Police say 25 students were abducted from their hostel. A school staff member, identified as Hassan Makuku, was shot and killed, while another, Ali Shehu, sustained a gunshot injury.
Security Response: A statement from police spokesperson CSP Nafiu Kotarkoshi detailed a brief gun battle between police units deployed at the school and the attackers. Despite the engagement, the assailants were able to scale the fence and flee with the students.
Rescue Efforts: The police have since deployed additional tactical squads, working alongside military personnel and local vigilantes, to track the kidnappers and secure the students’ release. Mr. Kotarkoshi said the teams are “currently combing the bandits’ routes and nearby forests.”
The Kebbi State government has also acknowledged the crisis. A spokesperson confirmed that the Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Tafida, had been dispatched to the area to assess the situation on behalf of the Governor. The exact number of students abducted is still being verified by the state government. The incident has caused significant distress in the Maga community, where parents are anxiously awaiting news of their children.
Context of Abductions
This latest attack highlights the persistent crisis of mass abductions targeting educational institutions across Nigeria’s north-west and central regions. These crimes are typically carried out by heavily armed criminal gangs, often referred to locally as “bandits,” who operate from forest hideouts and demand ransoms for the victims’ release. Kebbi State has been a previous target. In June 2021, dozens of students were abducted from the Federal Government Girls College in Birnin Yauri, some of whom were held captive for months before being released in early 2022.
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