By Bashir Adamu Zuru
A Community in Mourning
The early hours of November 17, 2025, brought unimaginable horror to the quiet town of Maga in Kebbi State, when armed militants known locally as bandits stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School. The attackers invaded the school compound under the cover of darkness, overwhelming the small security presence with gunfire and forcing their way into the girls’ dormitory.
By the end of the assault, a teacher had been killed, another staff member was wounded, and roughly 25 female students were abducted and driven into the surrounding forests.
This incident marks the most significant school abduction in Nigeria since the kidnapping of over 200 pupils in Kuriga, Kaduna State, in March 2024. Once again, the country is confronted with the grim reality of a security crisis that continues to endanger the most vulnerable.
The attack has sparked widespread outrage, renewed calls for urgent reforms, and deep anguish among families awaiting news of their missing daughters.
A Violent Raid and Acts of Bravery
Witnesses described the attack as swift and highly coordinated. The militants overwhelmed the school’s security with sustained gunfire and forced their way into the girls’ hostel, where they rounded up students and marched them out of the school compound.
Amid the chaos, remarkable acts of courage emerged. Vice Principal Malam Hassan Yakubu Makaku was killed while trying to protect the girls from the attackers. Another staff member survived gunshot injuries and is receiving treatment. “This is a heartbreaking tragedy that has plunged our entire region into fear and mourning,” said local resident Malama Murjanatu Hassan Gishiri.
One student, 15-year-old Hawau Usman, managed to escape after her captors left her behind. “I ran back toward the school and tried to get help,” she recounted, eventually finding refuge at a teacher’s home. Her survival has offered some solace to the community but also a haunting reminder of the girls still missing.
Security Response: A High-Stakes Rescue Effort
Authorities have launched a large-scale search-and-rescue operation across the forested terrain of Kebbi State. The police have deployed tactical units, backed by the military and local vigilante groups who know the terrain intimately.
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, met with troops shortly after the attack, calling for an intelligence-led and relentless pursuit of the kidnappers. “We must find these children,” he said. “Act decisively and professionally. Success is not optional.”
Security forces are coordinating with community hunters and vigilantes whose knowledge of remote routes is considered crucial to tracking the fleeing abductors.
National Impact and Political Repercussions
The Maga abduction has prompted swift reactions at the federal level:
Presidential Action: President Bola Tinubu postponed a scheduled trip to the G20 summit in South Africa to focus on the crisis. He condemned the attack as “heartless” and instructed security agencies to ensure the safe return of the girls.
Government Statements: The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the incident as “unacceptable and reprehensible,” reaffirming the government’s duty to protect schoolchildren.
Warnings Ignored: Civil society leader Dan Juma Umar criticized authorities for allegedly failing to act on reports from residents who noticed “suspicious movements” days before the attack. His claims have intensified scrutiny of Nigeria’s early-warning and response systems.
Background: A Troubling Pattern of School Abductions
The attack in Maga adds to a disturbing pattern of school kidnappings that has plagued northern Nigeria for over a decade:
Since the 2014 Chibok abduction of 276 schoolgirls, more than 1,500 students have been kidnapped nationwide.
Northwestern states have become hotspots for organized bandit groups who target rural schools, villages, and highways.
Officials say many of these groups emerged from herder–farmer conflicts and now operate as heavily armed criminal networks motivated largely by ransom payments.
Kebbi State previously suffered a major school abduction in 2021, when over 100 students and staff were taken and later released in batches over two years—some girls returning with babies after forced marriages in captivity.
Community Trauma and International Attention
The emotional toll in Maga is profound. Parents and relatives of the abducted girls remain in anguish as rescue operations continue. “Until the girls still in captivity are rescued, we cannot feel at ease,” said Usman Muhammad, whose daughter narrowly escaped the attack.
The incident has also drawn global attention, with some international political groups attempting to frame the abduction as part of a broader religious conflict. Local authorities, however, confirmed that the abducted girls are Muslim, cautioning against the politicization of the tragedy.
Conclusion: A Critical Test for Nigeria’s Security System
As security forces intensify search efforts, the fate of the abducted schoolgirls remains uncertain. The Maga attack has once again exposed the fragility of rural educational institutions and highlighted the limits of existing security strategies.
Despite a federal ban on ransom payments, analysts warn that kidnappers remain undeterred. Security expert Senator Iroegbu argues that while intelligence-driven operations are essential, negotiated release sometimes involving ransom may become necessary to safeguard the hostages.
The tragedy in Maga stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms capable of addressing the root causes of banditry. For families awaiting the return of their daughters, the promise of safety and education remains heartbreakingly out of reach.
Bashir Adamu Zuru is a journalist based in Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
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Opinion