Bandits Kill Vice Principal, Abduct 25 Schoolgirls in Early-Morning Raid
A violent attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu LGA of Kebbi State has left the community devastated after armed bandits invaded the school around 3 a.m., killing the Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, and abducting 25 female students.
The attackers operated for more than an hour, eyewitnesses said, leaving parents, teachers, and residents in shock as the search for the missing girls intensifies.
“Inside the Horror”: Survivors Recall a Night of Fear and Confusion
Hostel Matron: “I’ve never witnessed anything like this in 20 years.”
Hostel matron Hajia Maryam Bello said she sensed danger when one of the students began crying around 3 a.m.
Peeking through her window, she saw several armed men surrounding the school.
“One of them shouted, ‘Mama, I beg you in the name of God, open the door.’ I refused,” she said.
The attackers tried to break her door with a machete, but when it didn’t give way, they redirected their assault to the girls’ hostel, where several students were abducted.
Parents Relive Moments of Panic as Children Vanish
“I almost died when I didn’t see my daughter.” – Abubakar
A distraught parent, Abubakar, said they were in the mosque praying when an imam announced the attack.
Rushing to the hostel, he found only one of his daughters trembling and terrified.
“My younger daughter survived by hiding with three other girls,” he said. “But they took her elder sister, Khadija.”
“My wife has not eaten since the incident.” – Mallam Lawali
Another parent, Mallam Lawali, said his 12-year-old daughter, Hawau, a JSS2 student, was among those abducted.
“We want the government to help us. Government is responsible for security. They must bring our children back,” he pleaded.
Slain Vice Principal’s Wife Shares Final Moments
The wife of the murdered Vice Principal recounted how the attackers stormed their home before attacking the hostel.
“They broke down our door and killed my husband,” she said. “They forced my daughter at gunpoint to lead them to the hostel. But when they saw the girls, they left her behind and abducted the students.”
Massive Military Operation Underway
Following the attack, Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Kebbi and ordered an intelligence-led offensive under Operation FANSAN YANMA.
“We must find these children. Success is not optional,” he told troops.
He also met with local hunters and vigilantes, urging them to support the operation with their knowledge of the terrain.
Governor Idris: “Whatever is humanly possible will be done.”
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, visited the school and convened an emergency security meeting in Zuru.
A combined search-and-rescue team, led by the Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government, is combing forests across Kebbi and Zamfara, with ground and aerial surveillance ongoing.
Prayer sessions continue across the state.
Government Denies Withdrawal of Security Before Attack
The state government dismissed viral claims suggesting security operatives were withdrawn a day before the attack.
A statement called the claims “politically motivated, malicious and unpatriotic,” noting recent security investments, including patrol vehicles, motorcycles, and new military bases.
Community on Edge as Search Continues
Families are now sleeping outdoors out of fear of further attacks, while vigilantes, hunters, and security operatives continue combing nearby forests.
The Senate has also demanded improved security for schools across Nigeria.
