A tragic security breach occurred at the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, where armed bandits abducted a minimum of 25 schoolgirls.
During the bloody assault, the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, was killed.
Reports indicate that hundreds of attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, descended on the school premises at 1.00 a.m.
“It was a heartbreaking tragedy that has thrown the entire region into deep fear and mourning,” said Murjanatu Hassan Gishiri, a local resident.
“They came in mass numbers at night, began shooting sporadically before they got access to the school,” added Sulaiman Abdulllahi, another witness.
The bandits, who arrived on motorcycles, shot and killed Vice Principal Makuku as he tried to protect the students while a security guard was also injured during the attack.
The abducted students were taken to an unknown location, with reports suggesting the bandits may have fled towards Zamfara State.
The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the attack, with CSP Nafiu Abubakar saying a tactical team has been deployed to rescue the abducted students.
“Efforts are being intensified to ensure no student in captivity gets hurt by the bandits,” Abubakar said, adding that Police Commissioner Bello Sani is committed to ending the menace.
The area has been cordoned off by security personnel, and air force jets were seen patrolling the skies on Monday morning.
The Deputy Governor, Sen. Umar Tafida, has been dispatched to assess the situation on behalf of Gov. Nasir Idris, who is currently out of state.
This attack is the latest in a string of school abductions in northern Nigeria, highlighting concerns about insecurity in the region.
The community is in shock, with residents praying for the safe return of the abducted students and commending the bravery of the late Vice Principal.
Persecondnews recalls that 276 Chibok schoolgirls were abducted on April 14, 2014, when Boko Haram militants attacked Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State.
The incident sparked widespread outrage and a global campaign, #BringBackOurGirls, demanding their safe release.
Many of the abductees were forced into marriage including Leah Shuaib, sold into slavery, or subjected to other forms of exploitation while some have been rescued or escaped over the years, but many remain missing.
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