The Nigerian federal government and its security agencies have promised to do everything within their powers to rescue the over 20 students that were abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State in the early hours of Monday.
Security sources say the attackers, armed with “sophisticated weapons,” forced their way into the school compound around 3:30 am opening fire and engaging in a gun duel with Police Tactical units stationed at the school.
Though no group has so far claimed responsibility for the abduction of the school girls, and the motivation remains unclear.
A joint rescue operation has been launched. – Police Tactical teams, the military, and local vigilantes are combing suspected escape routes and surrounding forests in a coordinated search for the abducted girls who were snatched from their dormitories.
During the attack, the school’s, Chief Security Officer, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, was shot and killed in front of his wife.
Another staff member, identified as Ali Shehu, was wounded in the hand.
In the wake of the abductions, Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State traveled to Maga to visit the school, met with parents, community and traditional leaders, and security officials.
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He told gathered parents, “I’m giving you our word that every effort will be made to bring the children home safely,” and urged them to remain hopeful.
The Kebbi State Police Command has called on residents to remain vigilant and support the ongoing security efforts.
At the national level, the Federal Government, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has assured Nigerians that security and intelligence agencies have been directed to act swiftly.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, according to the statement, has reaffirmed that protecting schoolchildren is a solemn duty of the State — and that his administration will not relent until the girls are safely reunited with their families.
The government also said it is ramping up its security architecture — strengthening military, policing and intelligence capacities — to better prevent such attacks in the future.
Meanwhile, in Maga and across Kebbi State, there is growing anxiety among parents and the community. For them, it’s not just about recovering the students — it’s a stark reminder of the persistent insecurity that threatens schools in parts of northern Nigeria.
Nigeria is facing a multidimensional security challenge, specifically from amorphous groups of armed bandits who specialize in kidnapping for ransoms — sometimes totaling tens of millions of Naira — and have been responsible for several high-profile abductions across Nigeria’s northern region.
Kidnappings, attacks on villages and along major roads have become common because of the limited security presence.
This latest mass abduction of school girls is reminiscent of that of over 270 school girls from a school in Chibock in Borno State in April 2014.
Though that incident garnered huge international attention, eleven and a half years on, over a hundred of those girls are still missing.
This latest school girls abduction could turn into a Public Relations nightmare for the Nigerian government, if the girls are not found, safe and sound!
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
