Panic has swept through the Zuru Emirate of Kebbi State following a deadly overnight raid on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, located in the troubled Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area. Armed bandits stormed the school community late Sunday night, killing the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and abducting several female students.
According to early accounts from residents, the attackers arrived in large numbers and operated with confidence, firing sporadically while heading straight for the staff quarters and hostels. The Vice Principal was reportedly shot while attempting to shield students from the armed assailants, a move that community members have described as an act of courage in the face of danger.
Witnesses say the bandits also shot the school’s principal, who survived with injuries, before rounding up an unspecified number of students and escaping into the surrounding forest. The exact number of abducted students remains unclear as authorities and families continue headcounts and verification.
Local resident, Murjanatu Hassan Gishiri, who confirmed the incident, described the attack as “a heartbreaking tragedy that has thrown the entire region into fear, mourning, and deep uncertainty.” She added that the sound of gunfire sent villagers fleeing into the night, unsure of who the bandits might target next.
The killing of the Vice Principal has drawn an outpouring of grief across the community, with prayers being offered for his soul and calls for support to his bereaved family. Community elders have described the late Makuku as a dedicated educator whose commitment to his students ultimately cost him his life.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies have not issued an official statement. However, residents and local stakeholders are calling for urgent government intervention, immediate search-and-rescue operations, and a comprehensive overhaul of security presence in schools across the state.
The attack adds to the growing list of assaults on schools in parts of northern Nigeria, reigniting national concerns over student safety, rural insecurity, and the increasingly bold operations of armed criminal groups.
Parents of the abducted students have begun gathering at the school premises, anxiously awaiting updates, while local vigilante groups and security forces are said to be assessing the terrain for possible rescue efforts.
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