The latest wave of Nigeria school abductions has shocked the nation once again. In the early hours of Monday morning, armed men raided a girls’ secondary school in Kebbi State, kidnapped 25 students, and killed two staff members who tried to resist. This tragic incident adds to the growing concerns about safety in northern Nigeria, where school attacks have become a painful and persistent threat.
Kebbi School Attack: What Happened
In the quiet town of Maga, in Kebbi State’s Danko Wasagu Local Government Area, gunmen stormed the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School around 4:00 a.m. Witnesses say the attackers moved through forest routes connected to Zamfara, arriving at the school heavily armed and undetected.
According to local traditional leaders who spoke under anonymity, the assailants shot Vice Principal Hassan Yakubu Makuku when he tried to confront them. A security guard was also killed on the spot. The gunmen then moved straight into the dormitories, where they forcefully took 25 female students before escaping into nearby forests.
Police spokesperson Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi later confirmed that a joint team of security personnel, including police and military units, has been deployed to track the kidnappers and rescue the girls.
A Recurring Tragedy in Nigeria
The attack highlights a disturbing pattern linked to Nigeria school abductions, which have affected hundreds of families over the past decade. Despite government efforts, schools in the Northwest remain vulnerable due to limited security presence and vast ungoverned forests used by armed groups.
The trend began with Boko Haram’s infamous 2014 kidnapping of 276 Chibok schoolgirls, a tragedy that drew global attention. Since then, the number of kidnapped students has continued to rise. Experts estimate that more than 1,500 students have been abducted across northern states since 2014.
While Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to attack communities in the northeast, many of the recent school kidnappings involve loosely organized bandit groups driven by ransom payments rather than ideology.
Banditry and Weak Security Networks
Security analysts say the rise in Nigeria school abductions is increasing because criminal groups see schools as easy targets. These groups operate in remote regions where government presence is minimal. Their operations have expanded due to illegal firearms entering Nigeria through porous borders and the lack of strong community policing systems.
A security expert, Dr. Buhari Ubandawaki, noted that Nigeria’s security infrastructure is overstretched, allowing bandits and terrorists to exploit weak points. He explained that many northern states have large ungoverned territories, enabling attackers to operate freely, hide, and plan their movements.
Ubandawaki emphasized the need for a multi-layered security approach that includes community protection, state-level coordination, and stronger federal forces equipped with modern technology.
Families in Distress
For parents in Maga community, the days since the attack have been filled with fear and heartbreak. One mother, speaking to reporters anonymously for her safety, described the emotional pain she felt upon hearing that her daughter was among the kidnapped girls.
She recounted how her daughter had cried days earlier, saying she didn’t want to return to school. The mother said she now regrets not listening to her instincts. Like many families in the community, she has not slept peacefully since the incident, fearing the worst and hoping for her child’s safe return.
The emotional burden on families highlights the devastating human cost of Nigeria school abductions and the urgent need for stronger protection measures.
Federal and State Response
Following the attack, President Bola Tinubu instructed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State to meet with local authorities and show support to families. The federal government has promised to strengthen military and police deployment in vulnerable regions and improve the country’s intelligence network to prevent future attacks.
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris also assured parents that the government is doing everything possible to rescue the girls safely.
Other Attacks Within the Same Week
The Kebbi school kidnapping was not an isolated incident. Within the same week, Nigeria experienced other violent attacks, including:
- Borno State: Brigadier General Musa Uba was killed after an ambush by terrorist fighters in Damboa Local Government Area.
- Kwara State: Bandits stormed the Christ Apostolic Church in Oke Isegun, killing worshippers and kidnapping several congregants.
These incidents reflect a wider security crisis affecting multiple regions at once.
The Bigger Picture
The continued rise of Nigeria school abductions reveals systemic issues within the country’s security architecture. Many communities rely almost entirely on government forces because local defense structures are weak or nonexistent. Security analysts argue that without proper investment, coordinated state efforts, and robust community engagement, the cycle of violence will persist.
The kidnapping of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi is another painful reminder of the dangers students face in northern Nigeria. As families wait anxiously for news of their loved ones, the nation is once again confronted with the urgent need to address the growing problem of Nigeria school abductions.
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