An attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State, northwestern Nigeria, occurred early Monday, resulting in the abduction of students and the deaths of two school staff members. Reports indicate between 24 and at least 25 female students were abducted, and one teacher was also reportedly taken. Two abducted students subsequently managed to escape. The incident has prompted immediate search operations by security forces and has drawn renewed attention to the persistent security challenges in the region.
Incident Details
The event took place at approximately 04:00 local time (03:00 GMT) on Monday, when gunmen, identified locally as "bandits," invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School. The assailants reportedly engaged police personnel in a gun battle before scaling the perimeter fence to gain entry. They then proceeded to the school premises, taking students from their hostel dormitory. Some witness accounts indicated that the attackers arrived on motorcycles.
Casualties and Escapes
Two school staff members were killed during the incident. One deceased staff member was identified as Hassan Yakubu Makuku, the school's vice principal and chief security officer, who was reportedly killed while attempting to protect students. His spouse stated that the assailants specifically targeted him within their on-premises residence. Another staff member, a security guard, sustained gunshot wounds and later died in hospital.
Following their abduction, two students managed to escape. One student evaded capture during the initial raid, while another fled across farmland after being led into a wooded area by their captors. One of the girls sustained a leg injury but is reported to be safe.
Response and Search Operations
Immediately following the abduction, a joint team comprising soldiers, police personnel, and volunteers commenced search operations in the forested areas surrounding the school and along major roads. Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, directed troops in Kebbi state to conduct "intelligence-driven operations and relentless day-and-night pursuit" of the abductors. Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris visited the school and pledged commitment to rescue efforts.
The Nigerian central government expressed concern regarding the abductions. Information Minister Mohammed Idris Malagi issued a statement indicating that authorities are working to rescue the girls and that President Bola Tinubu remains committed to protecting citizens, particularly schoolchildren.
Context and Regional Insecurity
No group has claimed responsibility for the abduction. However, schools in northern Nigeria have been frequent targets for armed groups, often identified as "bandit gangs," for approximately the past decade. These groups frequently conduct abductions, reportedly seeking ransom payments or leverage in negotiations with the government. The Kebbi school is situated near regions such as Zamfara and Sokoto states, which are known for gang activity.
Similar incidents in northern Nigeria are often attributed to bandit gangs, which are sometimes described as former herders involved in conflicts with farming communities. Since the abduction of 276 Chibok schoolgirls over a decade ago, approximately 1,500 students have been seized in the region. Analysts suggest that school abductions serve as a strategy for gangs to attract broader attention. The persistent insecurity is often linked to factors such as a lack of prosecution for perpetrators and issues of corruption affecting security forces' resources.
Witness Accounts
Police reports indicated that the attackers engaged duty personnel in a gun battle before entering the school premises. A father reported that his two daughters hid in a toilet during the attack; one exited when the gunmen issued an ultimatum and was subsequently abducted, while the other remained hidden and was not taken. Abdulkarim Abdullahi, whose daughter and granddaughter were among the abducted, reported hearing gunshots and observing the attackers arriving on motorcycles.