Bandits have abducted 25 students from the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Kebbi State.

The gunmen stormed the school in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area on Sunday night, killing the Vice Principal, Mr. Hassan Makuku, before seizing the schoolgirls.

Sources said the attackers met no resistance and sowed panic across the community, leaving the area in fear and mourning. Mr. Makuku was reportedly shot while attempting to protect the students during the invasion.

Prayers have continued to pour in from residents, who asked Allah to grant him mercy, a peaceful resting place, and to comfort his family following what they described as a painful and unjust loss.

Confirming the incident, the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, said 25 students had been abducted.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ahmed Idris, disclosed that the Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Tafida, had been directed to visit the school and assess the situation on behalf of Governor Nasir Idris, who is currently out of the state.

“The deputy governor is on his way to know the exact situation. The governor is not in the state for now, but his deputy will go on his behalf until he returns at any moment from now,” Mr. Idris said.

Parents and residents are anxiously awaiting official updates on the fate of the abducted girls.

The attack is the latest in a series of kidnappings of schoolchildren by bandits in northern Nigeria.

In February 2021, bandits abducted 317 schoolgirls from the Government Girls’ Science Secondary School, Jangebe, in Zamfara State. That same month, gunmen raided Government Science College, Kagara, in Niger State, and kidnapped students, teachers, and their family members.

In December 2020, 303 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in Katsina State, were taken captive.

In 2018, 110 students were kidnapped when Boko Haram invaded the Government Girls’ Science Technical College (GGSTC), Dapchi.

In 2014, Boko Haram abducted about 200 students from Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok, triggering global outrage.