Nigerians of various political divides have risen in strong condemnation of the Monday attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, GGCSS, Maga in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, Kebbi that resulted to killing of the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku and abduction of 25 students.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Nigerians of various political divides have risen in strong condemnation of the Monday attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, GGCSS, Maga in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, Kebbi that resulted to killing of the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku and abduction of 25 students. They are united in the call on the federal Government to ensure the rescue of the girls. Their demand comes as the President has given marching orders to the relevant security agencies to ensure prompt and safety return of the girls.
A statement by the Kebbi State Police Command signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi, stated that the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the school early in the morning and engaged police personnel on duty in a gun duel. Kotarkoshi added that despite the resistance, the bandits scaled the school’s perimeter fence and abducted the students from their hostel.
Witnesses however said the bandits operated without resistance and caused widespread panic, throwing the entire area into deep fear and mourning. Makuku, it was learned, was shot while attempting to protect the students during the invasion.
Atiku condemns abduction, demands action from FG
In his reaction, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, described the invasion of the school and abduction of the girls as another sign of Nigeria’s deepening insecurity.
Atiku who made the reaction on a statement posted on X, also condemned the killing of an All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain, Umar Moriki, as well as the mass abductions in Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where entire families, including women and children, were kidnapped by armed men.
Atiku said similar violent attacks and displacements were being recorded in Plateau, Benue and other states, adding that residents in Shanono Local Government Area of Kano State were fleeing their homes out of fear.
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Bandits kidnap 25 female students in Kebbi, kill vice principal
The former Vice President urged the Federal Government to urgently overhaul the country’s security framework, strengthen deployments to vulnerable communities and intensify intelligence-driven operations, maintaining that Nigerians deserve protection, dignity and lasting peace.
“I am devastated by the news of the tragic attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, which claimed the life of the Vice-Principal and led to the abduction of innocent students.
“This is yet another reminder of the worsening insecurity in our nation.
“I equally condemn the killing of an APC chieftain Umar Moriki and the mass abductions in Tsafe LGA of Zamfara, where entire families, including women and children were taken by bandits. These acts of barbarity have no place in a civilized society.
“Nigeria cannot continue on this path. I call on the Federal Government to urgently review and strengthen its security architecture, deploy adequate personnel across vulnerable communities, and intensify intelligence-led operations. Our citizens deserve protection, dignity, and peace, nothing less,” Atiku said.
Peter Obi calls for overhaul of nation’s security system
Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, expressed deep concern over the recent attacks in Kebbi and Zamfara States, calling on the government at all levels to urgently strengthen security and protect citizens, especially schoolchildren.
Reacting in a post on X on Monday, Obi described as heartbreaking the abduction of students at Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Kebbi State, where gunmen reportedly killed a staff member and kidnapped several female students.
He also condemned a separate attack in Fegin Baza village, Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State, where bandits reportedly killed three persons and abducted about 64 residents.
Obi urged the federal and state governments to intensify efforts to rescue the abducted girls, overhaul the nation’s security system, and ensure that communities are no longer exposed to terror.
He said: “My heart is heavy in faraway Monaco as I receive the heartbreaking news from Kebbi State about the attack on Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School, which led to the abduction of several young female students and the killing of a staff member.
“Sadly, similar acts of violence continue elsewhere. In Zamfara State, bandits reportedly killed three persons and abducted about 64 others in Fegin Baza village, Tsafe LGA. These are devastating and unacceptable losses.
“My deepest sympathies go to the government and people of Kebbi and Zamfara States, the parents and families of the abducted girls, and all those affected by this tragedy.
“Entire communities are living in fear; schools—safe havens for learning—are now vulnerable targets. Families are being torn apart, and innocent lives are being destroyed. This is not the Nigeria we should accept.
“At this difficult time, we must strengthen our resolve to secure every part of our nation.
“I call on the government at all levels to urgently intensify security efforts, overhaul our security architecture, ensure the safe rescue of the abducted girls, and prevent further attacks on our schools and communities. Our children must never be left at the mercy of terrorists”.
Ezekwesili demands immediate rescue of the girls
Former Minister of Education and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls movement, Obiageli Ezekwesili, called for the immediate rescue of the abducted 25 female students from a secondary school in Kebbi State.
In a post shared on X on Monday, Ezekwesili described the incident as “deeply heart-wrenching,” noting that the attackers also killed a security guard and a vice principal of the school.
She blamed what she termed “persistent enabling of impunity” for the continued vulnerability of schools to terrorist attacks.
The former minister recalled the government’s past failures in securing and rescuing schoolgirls abducted in Chibok in 2014 and Dapchi in 2018, insisting that lessons from those incidents should guide present actions.
Ezekwesili stressed that the abducted students “have no reason to spend one day in the enclave of terrorists,” urging both state and federal authorities to carry out an immediate rescue operation and guarantee safe learning environments for children across the country.
“It is deeply heart- wrenching to read of the tragic abduction of Secondary School girls from their school in Kebbi State.
“Twenty five girls were abducted by gunmen who also killed a security guard and vice principal of the school at a time that any such vulnerability ought not to exist if not for the persistent enabling of impunity – of zero consequences- to terrorists.
“The lessons of the failure of @NigeriaGov @NGRPresident to swiftly mount effective Search & Rescue Operations for ChibokGirls 2014) and DapchGirls (2018) through the security establishments are evident to guide this administration.
“Those schoolgirls have no reason to spend one day in the enclave of terrorists.
“Rescue them immediately to continue with their education in Safe Schools that the State and Federal Governments have a duty to provide.”
FG pledges swift action
On its part, the Federal Government expressed deep concern over the abduction of the female students, vowing to ensure their safe return. This was contained in a statement signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, on Monday. Idris noted that President Bola Tinubu, has reiterated that protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, remains a solemn responsibility of the state.
The government condemned the attack on the school, describing it as “reprehensible” and decried the killing of school officials who were carrying out their duties.
He added, “Our security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate, rescue, and safely return the students, and to ensure that the perpetrators face justice.
“The Federal Government will not relent until this objective is achieved.
“We assure Nigerians that strengthening internal security remains a top priority. The Federal Government is recalibrating the nation’s military, policing, and intelligence capabilities to more effectively prevent these attacks and respond with greater speed and precision whenever threats arise.”
