Panic engulfed the Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State early Monday morning after it emerged that armed bandits attacked Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, GGCSS, Maga in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, killing the Vice Principal and abducting several students.
DAILY POST reported that the late-night assault left the vice principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, dead after he reportedly attempted to shield students from the attackers.
In a statement following the tragic incident, the Kebbi State Police Command on Monday confirmed that 25 students were abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.
According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi, the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the school around 4:00am and engaged police personnel on duty in a gun duel.
Kotarkoshi stated that despite the resistance, the bandits reportedly scaled the school’s perimeter fence and abducted the students from their hostel.
The police spokesperson confirmed that Hassan Makuku lost his life during the attack, while Ali Shehu sustained gunshot injuries to his right hand.
The development has drawn outrage across the country.
Nigeria can’t continue on this path – Atiku
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, in his reaction, described the incident as another sign of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity.
In a statement posted on X, Abubakar also condemned the killing of an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Umar Moriki, as well as the mass abductions in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where entire families, including women and children, were kidnapped by armed men.
Atiku said similar violent attacks and displacements were being recorded in Plateau, Benue and other states, adding that residents in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State were fleeing their homes out of fear.
The former Vice President urged the Federal Government to urgently overhaul the country’s security framework, strengthen deployments to vulnerable communities and intensify intelligence-driven operations, maintaining that Nigerians deserve protection, dignity and lasting peace.
“I am devastated by the news of the tragic attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, which claimed the life of the Vice-Principal and led to the abduction of innocent students.
“This is yet another reminder of the worsening insecurity in our nation.
“I equally condemn the killing of an APC chieftain Umar Moriki and the mass abductions in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara, where entire families, including women and children were taken by bandits. These acts of barbarity have no place in a civilized society.
“Nigeria cannot continue on this path. I call on the Federal Government to urgently review and strengthen its security architecture, deploy adequate personnel across vulnerable communities, and intensify intelligence-led operations. Our citizens deserve protection, dignity, and peace, nothing less,” Atiku said.
Deeply heart-wrenching – Ezekwesili
Former Minister of Education and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, Obiageli Ezekwesili, called for the immediate rescue of the abducted 25 female students from a secondary school in Kebbi State.
In a post shared on X on Monday, Ezekwesili described the incident as “deeply heart-wrenching,” noting that the attackers also killed a security guard and a vice principal of the school.
She blamed what she termed “persistent enabling of impunity” for the continued vulnerability of schools to terrorist attacks.
The former minister recalled the government’s past failures in securing and rescuing schoolgirls abducted in Chibok in 2014 and Dapchi in 2018, insisting that lessons from those incidents should guide present actions.
Ezekwesili stressed that the abducted students “have no reason to spend one day in the enclave of terrorists,” urging both state and federal authorities to carry out an immediate rescue operation and guarantee safe learning environments for children across the country.
“It is deeply heart- wrenching to read of the tragic abduction of Secondary School girls from their school in Kebbi State.
“Twenty five girls were abducted by gunmen who also killed a security guard and vice principal of the school at a time that any such vulnerability ought not to exist if not for the persistent enabling of impunity – of zero consequences- to terrorists.
“The lessons of the failure of @NigeriaGov @NGRPresident to swiftly mount effective Search & Rescue Operations for ChibokGirls 2014) and DapchGirls (2018) through the security establishments are evident to guide this administration.
“Those schoolgirls have no reason to spend one day in the enclave of terrorists.
“Rescue them immediately to continue with their education in Safe Schools that the State and Federal Governments have a duty to provide.”
Overhaul nation’s security system – Peter Obi
On his part, former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, expressed deep concern over the recent attacks in Kebbi and Zamfara States, calling on the government at all levels to urgently strengthen security and protect citizens, especially schoolchildren.
Reacting in a post on X on Monday, Obi described as heartbreaking the abduction of students at Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, where gunmen reportedly killed a staff member and kidnapped several female students.
He also condemned a separate attack in Fegin Baza village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where bandits reportedly killed three persons and abducted about 64 residents.
Obi urged the federal and state governments to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted girls, overhaul the nation’s security system, and ensure that communities are no longer exposed to terror.
He said: “My heart is heavy in faraway Monaco as I receive the heartbreaking news from Kebbi State about the attack on Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School, which led to the abduction of several young female students and the killing of a staff member.
“Sadly, similar acts of violence continue elsewhere. In Zamfara State, bandits reportedly killed three persons and abducted about 64 others in Fegin Baza village, Tsafe LGA. These are devastating and unacceptable losses.
“My deepest sympathies go to the government and people of Kebbi and Zamfara States, the parents and families of the abducted girls, and all those affected by this tragedy.
“Entire communities are living in fear; schools—safe havens for learning—are now vulnerable targets. Families are being torn apart, and innocent lives are being destroyed. This is not the Nigeria we should accept.
“At this difficult time, we must strengthen our resolve to secure every part of our nation.
“I call on the government at all levels to urgently intensify security efforts, overhaul our security architecture, ensure the safe rescue of the abducted girls, and prevent further attacks on our schools and communities. Our children must never be left at the mercy of terrorists”.
FG orders swift rescue operation
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has vowed to secure the release of kidnapped female students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State,
In a statement on Monday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government shares in the pain of affected families and remains committed to ensuring the safe return of the students.
Idris disclosed that security and intelligence agencies have been given direct orders to locate and rescue the abducted girls while ensuring that the perpetrators are arrested and prosecuted.
Speaking with DAILY POST in an interview, a public affairs analyst and communications specialist at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, called on relevant authorities to prioritize the safe rescue of the abducted girls, provide psychological support to affected families, and strengthen school safety protocols nationwide.
Odo added that Nigeria still has the capacity to overcome insecurity if its institutions and communities work together with sincerity, transparency and sustained commitment.
He said: “First, I believe the authorities should prioritise the safe rescue of the abducted girls. At the same time, psychological support must be provided to the affected families and communities, because trauma is a long-term issue. We also need stronger school safety protocols nationwide to reduce vulnerability.
“Nigeria has the capacity to overcome insecurity, but success depends on sincerity, transparency and strong collaboration between government, security institutions, local communities and all relevant stakeholders. If we work together with commitment and honesty, we can rebuild trust and secure our nation.”
Uproar over abduction of Kebbi school girls
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