Bandits Kill Vice Principal, Abduct 25 Girls in Kebbi School Attack

Bandits Kill Vice Principal, Abduct 25 Girls in Kebbi School Attack

In the early hours of Monday, November 17, 2025, armed bandits launched a coordinated attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) located in Maga town, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The assault resulted in the death of the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and the abduction of at least 25 female students.

According to Vanguard reports, the incident occurred around 4:00 a.m. when a large group of heavily armed assailants breached the school’s perimeter fence and gained access to the female hostel. The Vice Principal, upon hearing the commotion, confronted the intruders in an attempt to protect the students. He was fatally shot at close range. A security guard attached to the school, Ali Shehu, sustained gunshot injuries to his right hand during the exchange of fire.

The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the attack through its spokesman, CSP Nafiu Abubakar. In an official statement, the command disclosed that police tactical units stationed at the school engaged the bandits in a gun battle. Despite the resistance, the attackers succeeded in abducting 25 students and escaped into the surrounding forest.

A joint rescue operation involving the Nigerian Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, and local vigilante groups has been activated. Air surveillance by Nigerian Air Force jets was observed over the area throughout the morning, while ground teams are combing nearby forests and known bandit escape routes.

The Kebbi State Government, through the Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, has visited the school to assess the situation and commiserate with the school management and affected families. Governor Nasir Idris, who is currently out of the state, has been fully briefed and is monitoring developments.

This incident represents a continuation of the worsening security challenges in parts of northwestern Nigeria, where armed groups commonly referred to as “bandits” engage in mass abductions, cattle rustling, and killings. Educational institutions have increasingly become targets, with previous notable cases including the 2021 abduction of students from Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri (also in Kebbi State) and the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping in Borno State.(Channels News)

Security analysts attribute the persistence of these attacks to a combination of porous borders, proliferation of small arms, socio-economic marginalization, and inadequate coordination among security agencies. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has repeatedly highlighted the severe impact of such incidents on girls’ education in northern Nigeria.

As at the time of filing this report, no group has claimed responsibility, and no contact has been established with the abductors. The Kebbi State Police Command has urged the public to provide useful information that could lead to the safe rescue of the students and the arrest of the perpetrators.

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The entire Zuru Emirate and Kebbi State remain in shock over the loss of Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, described by colleagues as a dedicated educator who sacrificed his life in defense of his students. Condolences continue to pour in from across the country, with citizens and civil society organizations renewing calls for decisive action to end the cycle of violence against schools.

Authorities have assured that every effort is being made to secure the unconditional release of the abducted students and to bring the perpetrators to justice.