Survivors of the violent Monday attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, have recounted the horror 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 thrown the entire community into mourning as distraught parents, teachers, and residents struggled to come to terms with the whereabouts of the missing girls.
However, security agents, including the Nigeria Police Force and the military, have since launched an intensive search-and-rescue operation to track the perpetrators and recover the missing students.
During a visit to the school on Tuesday, parents and eyewitnesses narrated harrowing details of how the bandits operated for over an hour without resistance before fleeing into the forest with the abducted children.
The incident is reminiscent of 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.
The GGSS hostel matron, Hajia Maryam Bello, who has worked in the school for nearly two decades, said she heard the first signal 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, one of the attackers shouted, calling her by the common name the students use for her.
“He was shouting, ‘Mama, mama, I beg you in the name of God, open the door.’ I refused. When I saw their number, I pretended to go and bring the key, but instead locked myself inside my room.”
She further explained that the attackers attempted multiple times to break down her door with a machete, but the door did not give way.
Unable to force her door open, they proceeded to the girls’ hostel and abducted several students.
“I have worked here for almost 20 years, since the inception of the school. I have never witnessed something like this,” she said, holding back tears.
One of the affected parents, Abubakar, said he rushed to the school on hearing the news and met 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.
“When I got to the hostel, I saw my younger daughter. I asked her where her elder sister, Khadija, was. She said the bandits had taken her away. I almost died on the spot.”
He said 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 said.
The wife of the slain Vice Principal narrated how the gunmen broke into their home before attacking the hostel.
“We were sleeping around 3:30 a.m. when we heard noises. I told my husband maybe animals were disturbing us,” she said. “But the next thing was the door breaking 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, when they saw the girls, they abandoned my daughter and went for the students,” she added.
Another grieving parent, Mallam Lawali, said his 12-year-old daughter, Hawau, a JSS2 student, was among those taken away.
“We heard that bandits had entered our community and killed a teacher,” he said. “My wife has been crying since the incident. She has not eaten anything. We want the government to help us. Government is responsible for security; they should help us get our daughters back.”
Following the attack, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Kebbi on Tuesday and directed troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to launch an intensified, intelligence-led offensive to rescue the abducted students.
Addressing the troops in the area, Lt. Gen. Shaibu said the army would not accept failure in the mission.
“We must find these children. Act decisively and professionally on all intelligence. Success is not optional,” he declared.
He ordered round-the-clock pursuit of the abductors and subsequently met with local vigilantes and hunters, urging them to support the operation with their knowledge of the terrain.
Earlier, he paid condolence visits to the traditional ruler of Danko, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Allaje, and the school principal, Hajiya Rabi Musa Magaji, assuring them of the military’s readiness to rescue the students.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, vowed to deploy every available resource to secure the safe release of the missing students.
A statement by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Abdullah Idris, on Tuesday said Idris gave the assurance on Monday evening during an on-the-spot assessment of the school, declaring that “whatever is humanly possible will be done to rescue our children.”
“A visibly shaken Idris 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 met with community leaders, families of the slain vice principal, and parents of the abducted girls, offering condolences and urging calm.
“From Maga, the governor proceeded to Zuru, where he convened an emergency security meeting with service commanders and traditional rulers to review strategies ahead of the arrival of additional top-level security operatives from Abuja following the President’s directive.”
The statement further stated that a combined team of security personnel, led by Deputy Governor Alhaji Umar Abubakar Tafida and Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Yakubu Yauri, has launched a massive search-and-rescue operation across forests straddling Kebbi and Zamfara States.
Intensified ground and aerial surveillance is reportedly underway, as prayer sessions also continue across the state for divine intervention.
Meanwhile, the Kebbi State Government has denied social media reports alleging that security operatives were withdrawn from Maga a day before the attack.
Idris, described the claims as “politically motivated, malicious and unpatriotic.”
“Whoever is spreading these lies is an enemy of Kebbi State. To suggest that the government withdrew security before the attack is dangerous misinformation,” he said.
He accused some political actors of using the security situation for propaganda, recalling similar exaggerated claims in past incidents.
The official noted that Governor Idris’ administration has invested heavily in security, citing 100 Hilux patrol vehicles, 5,000 motorcycles for local security operations, and the establishment of additional military bases across the state.
“It is illogical that a government making such investments would withdraw security before an attack,” he said.
The attack has heightened tension in the area, with many families sleeping outdoors in 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, hoping for updates on their missing daughters.
Concerned by the abduction, the Senate demanded effective security for educational institutions across 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.
The First Lady prayed for divine help and comfort, saying, “I pray almighty God grants quick rescue to the abducted girls and may the soul of the departed Vice Principal rest in Aljannah Firdaus.”
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