Survivors of the brutal attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State’s Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, have recounted their harrowing experience of the incident, during which the Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, was killed and 25 female students abducted by bandits. The incident, which occurred around 3a.m.,
has sent shockwaves through the community as distraught parents, teachers, and residents grapple with the uncertainty surrounding the missing girls.
Security agents, including the Nigeria Police Force and the military, have launched an extensive search-and-rescue operation to track down the perpetrators and rescue the missing students.
Parents and eyewitnesses recounted harrowing details of the bandits’ operation, which lasted over an hour without resistance, during a visit to the school on Tuesday.
The incident is analogous to the April 2014 abduction of over 200 Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorists and the abduction of 80 students and five teachers from the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, in 2021.
Hajia Maryam Bello, the GGSS hostel matron with nearly two decades of experience in the school, recounted that she heard the first indication of trouble when one of the students began crying shortly after 3:00 a.m.
“I stood up and looked through the window, and I saw many people surrounding the place,” she said.
According to her account, one of the attackers shouted, addressing her by the nickname commonly used by the students.
He yelled, ‘Mama, mama, I implore you in the name of God, open the door.’
She refused. Upon seeing their numbers, she pretended to retrieve the key but instead secured herself inside her room.
After being unable to force her door open, the attackers proceeded to the girls’ hostel and abducted several students.
‘In my nearly 20 years of service since the school’s inception, I have never experienced such a traumatic event,’ she stated, fighting to hold back tears.
Abubakar, one of the parents affected by the incident, reported that he rushed to the school upon hearing the news and met his younger daughter outside the hostel, visibly shaken.
‘We were in the mosque during our prayers when an imam came to inform us that bandits had attacked the school,’ he said.
According to Abubakar, one of the parents impacted, he swiftly went to the school after hearing the news and found his younger daughter outside the hostel, terrified.
“We were in the mosque performing our prayers when an imam came to tell us that bandits had attacked the school,” he said.
As I arrived at the hostel, I found my younger daughter and inquired about the current location of her elder sister, Khadija.
She notified me that the bandits had taken her captive, which had a profound impact on me.
According to him, his younger daughter survived by hiding in a room with three other students. “The bandits threatened to kill them if they didn’t come out. The other three came out, but my daughter refused to come out of hiding,” he disclosed.
The wife of the slain Vice Principal described how the gunmen broke into their home before attacking the hostel.
We were resting around 3:30 a.m. when we were startled by noises.
I informed my husband that it might have been animals causing the disturbance,” she said. “However, the next thing that happened was the door being broken down.
They entered and killed my husband.” She said the attackers ordered her to follow them, but she refused. Her daughter, who came out of her room, was then forced at gunpoint to lead them to the hostel.
“At the hostel, upon seeing the students, the attackers released my daughter and targeted the students instead,” she added. A friend.
Another grieving parent, Mallam Lawali, said his 12-year-old daughter, Hawau, a JSS2 student, was among those taken away.
We were informed that bandits had invaded our community and murdered a teacher,” he stated.
“My wife has been distraught since the incident and has not consumed any food.
We urge the government to provide assistance.
As the entity responsible for security, they should aid us in retrieving our daughters.
In the aftermath of the attack, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.
Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Kebbi on Tuesday and ordered troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to initiate a comprehensive, intelligence-driven operation to rescue the abducted students.
Addressing the troops in the area, Lt. Gen. Shaibu underscored that failure was not an option in the mission.
“We must locate these children.
Act decisively and professionally on all intelligence. Success is not optional,” he emphasized.
He commanded a continuous pursuit of the abductors and later conferred with local vigilantes and hunters, encouraging them to utilize their knowledge of the terrain to augment the operation. Prior to this, he paid condolence visits to the traditional ruler of Danko, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Allaje, and the school principal, Hajiya Rabi Musa Magaji, reassuring them of the military’s readiness to rescue the students.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, pledged to commit every available resource to secure the safe release of the missing students.
Abdullah Idris, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, issued a statement on Tuesday, disclosing that Idris provided assurances during an on-site assessment of the school on Monday evening, stating that “whatever is humanly possible will be done to rescue our children.”
Idris, visibly shaken, arrived at the school in the company of members of the State Executive Council, Speaker of the State House of Assembly Hon. Muhammad Ankwe, and heads of security agencies.
The governor also met with community leaders, families of the slain vice principal, and parents of the abducted girls, offering condolences and urging calm.
Following his visit to Maga, the governor proceeded to Zuru, where he held an emergency security meeting with service commanders and traditional rulers to evaluate strategies prior to the arrival of additional top-level security operatives from Abuja, as directed by the President.
In addition, a combined team of security personnel, led by Deputy Governor Alhaji Umar Abubakar Tafida and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Yauri, launched a massive search-and-rescue operation across forests straddling Kebbi and Zamfara States.
According to reports, intensified ground and aerial surveillance is underway, alongside ongoing prayer sessions across the state for divine intervention.
The Kebbi State Government has dismissed social media allegations claiming security operatives were withdrawn from Maga a day prior to the attack.
Idris characterized these claims as ‘politically motivated, malicious, and unpatriotic.’
‘Anyone disseminating these lies is an enemy of Kebbi State. The notion that the government withdrew security before the attack constitutes dangerous misinformation,’ he remarked.
He alleged that certain political actors were exploiting the security situation for propaganda purposes, drawing parallels with similar exaggerated claims made during previous incidents.
The official highlighted that Governor Idris’ administration has made significant investments in security, including the provision of 100 Hilux patrol vehicles, 5,000 motorcycles for local security operations, and the establishment of additional military bases throughout the state.
It is illogical, he argued, that a government making such investments would withdraw security prior to an attack.
The attack has resulted in increased tensions in the area, with many families opting to sleep outdoors due to fear of further attacks.
Security forces, vigilantes, and local hunters are conducting search operations across nearby forests, while parents continue to gather at the school, awaiting updates on their missing daughters.
Following the abduction, the Senate pressed for strengthened security protocols for educational institutions throughout the country.
The lawmakers’ reaction followed a motion raised by Kebbi Senator Yahaya Abdullahi during plenary, prompting a heated debate on the worsening insecurity.
The session was presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who later ordered a closed-door meeting after the deliberations.
Former Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, lamented the continuing attacks on schools, warning that the country risks losing an entire generation if urgent steps are not taken.
“These children are our future. We have to do everything possible to get them back. Otherwise, the future of Nigeria will be compromised. But time is of the essence to our armed forces.”
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) stressed that governors must share responsibility for fighting insecurity, recalling his own experience while in office.
“Security should not only be the job of the Federal Government. I have never blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo while I was a governor. I had gone out of my way to help Anambra and other states in terms of security.”
For Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), the frequency of school attacks demands the deployment of technology and a renewed national urgency.
“This matter is what many people don’t want to discuss anymore. But it is a matter of national importance. They were taken away and are still being moved around. So, we urge security agencies to deploy their technology to find them.”
Senator Solomon Lalong (Plateau South) questioned the effectiveness of the World Bank–supported Safe School programme and drew parallels with the tragedy of the Chibok girls.
“What has the girl child done to Nigeria? What is wrong with the Safe School programme funded by the World Bank, because I was also a part of it? This is the same fate that befell our Chibok girls. It should be treated as a matter of national security before it turns into another Chibok experience.”
Reacting to the contributions, Senate President Akpabio condemned the attack and called for a coordinated national response.
“The Senate condemns this dastardly act, especially violence against our children. We urge the FG and security agencies to apprehend these criminals and rescue our children without delay.”
He also raised questions about the logistics used by the attackers and disclosed that senators’ inputs would feed into the forthcoming national security summit.
“When we talked about these students being abducted, what did they use to convey them? But it is important to get the views of Nigerians to be compiled for our security summit.”
Akpabio then directed the chamber into a closed session after lawmakers observed a minute’s silence.
“After this, we will go for a closed-door session to discuss more. Let us also spare a minute’s silence in honour of the school vice principal and those who died defending the students.”
In the same vein, the United Nations Children Fund, the Nigerian Bar Association, and First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, have condemned the abduction of the 25 students and the killing of the school’s Vice-Principal.
A statement by the Communication Specialist, UNICEF Nigeria, Sussan Akila, said, ‘’This tragic incident is yet another stark reminder of the urgent need to protect children, schools, and the personnel they rely upon to learn safely.
We stand with the affected community at this difficult time. Our heartfelt condolences go to those who have lost their loved ones, and we wish a full recovery for those injured. UNICEF further urges the swift release of the abducted children.
“Students, education facilities, and their personnel should be protected under international law from any form of attack, and those responsible for this incident must be held to account in accordance with national and international standards.
In 2015, the Nigerian government endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, which outlines concrete steps to safeguard the civilian nature of schools and universities to ensure safe access of students to education during conflict. UNICEF calls on all relevant stakeholders to continue efforts to implement the Safe Schools Declaration in Nigeria.’’
“UNICEF is working with government partners, civil society, and communities to strengthen child protection systems and promote safe and inclusive learning environments across the country. These systems and environments must be reinforced to prevent future tragedies. No child should be put at risk while pursuing an education”, the statement read.
The NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, in a statement on Tuesday, described the incident as “a horrific act of violence and national shame,” warning that Nigeria is sinking deeper into a culture of impunity and unchecked terror.
The bar association said it would no longer remain silent as mass abductions and targeted killings continue across the country. “Enough is enough,” it noted, citing the series of recent tragedies, including the killing of Brigadier-General M. Uba and some soldiers in an ambush by ISWAP terrorists in Borno State.
Osigwe said the attacks show that terrorists are now openly targeting the military, a development he described as “dangerous and perilous.”
According to the NBA, the killings and abductions highlight a worsening security situation in which schoolchildren, farmers, travellers, rural dwellers, and security personnel all face life-threatening risks.
The group cited recent reports indicating that at least 145 people were abducted in four days across Kebbi, Niger and Zamfara States.
The association also referenced a security alert recently issued by the Department of State Services, warning that ISWAP militants were planning to attack Ondo and Kogi States.
Osigwe said the alert demonstrates a coordinated strategy by terrorist groups to expand their influence into previously secure regions.
“This is not speculation; it is a clear and present danger,” the NBA said, accusing the government of inaction, institutional failures and weak intelligence responses.
The association questioned why terrorists continue to roam highways and forests, levy taxes on communities, displace families and carry out mass kidnappings without facing decisive resistance. It also criticised the continued vulnerability of schools, highways, and military convoys to ambushes.
The NBA called on the Federal Government to immediately launch a coordinated rescue mission for the abducted schoolgirls and to provide regular public updates on the operation. It also demanded an urgent inquest into the intelligence and security lapses that led to the killing of Brig. Gen Uba and other military personnel in Borno.
Other demands include the prosecution of all terror collaborators, full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, investment in satellite surveillance and forest-monitoring technology, pre-emptive counter-terrorism action following the DSS alert, and comprehensive trauma support for families affected by recent attacks.
The NBA paid tribute to the teacher who died protecting his students in Kebbi, as well as Uba and other soldiers who lost their lives.
It warned that unless urgent action is taken, Nigeria risks descending into a national tragedy of “unimaginable proportions.”
“This is not just about security,” Osigwe said. “It is about leadership, justice and the soul of this nation. Silence is complicity. Delay is dangerous. The time to act is now.”
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu described the attack as a blow against learning and national values.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mrs. Tinubu condoled with the family of the abducted school girls, noting that President Bola Tinubu had directed security agencies to ensure the girls’ safe return and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
The First Lady wrote, “I am deeply saddened by the news of the abduction of the 25 students of the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State and the tragic killing of the Vice Principal.
“This heartbreaking incident is not only an attack on innocent girls and dedicated educators, but an assault on the values of safety and learning that schools embody.”
“Mr President has already ordered our security agencies to ensure the quick and safe return of the abducted girls and to bring the perpetrators to justice. My heart and prayers are with the families, friends, loved ones and schoolmates at this time,” she stated.
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