Bandits have struck the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, killing the Vice-Principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and abducting an unknown number of students.
According to Arise TV, the Kebbi State government has confirmed the attack but said information is still sketchy as authorities work to gather more details.
Local sources said the assault occurred around 5 a.m. on Monday, just before dawn prayers. The assailants reportedly arrived on motorcycles from the neighbouring Rijau forest and entered the school without resistance. Vice-Principal Makuku was shot while trying to protect the students, while a security guard was injured during the attack.
A resident of Maga, Aliyu Yakubu, described the community as gripped by fear and mourning. “The attack has created panic among residents. We are in shock, and the school is now empty and unsafe,” he said.
Residents believe the bandits may still be within the vicinity, prompting urgent calls for intervention by both Kebbi State and Federal Government authorities to rescue the abducted students and prevent further harm.
The attack highlights the persistent insecurity in Kebbi State, which has seen a rising number of school abductions in recent years. One of the most notorious incidents was in June 2021 when armed attackers stormed the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, killing a police officer and abducting at least 80 students and five teachers.
Security agencies have yet to release an official statement regarding the latest incident. CSP Nafiu Abubakar, the Public Relations Officer of the Kebbi State Police Command, did not respond to calls requesting comment.
The repeated attacks on schools in northwestern Nigeria have renewed concerns over the safety of children and the urgent need for stronger security measures to protect educational institutions.
Communities in Maga and surrounding areas are calling for immediate government action to prevent the abducted students from being taken deeper into the forest and to restore a sense of safety for residents and schoolchildren.
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