Survivors of Monday’s violent attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in the Danko/Wasagu area of Kebbi State, have described the terrifying events that led to the killing of the school’s Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, and the abduction of 25 female students by armed bandits.
The attack, which took place around 3 a.m., has plunged the entire community into fear and mourning. Parents, teachers, and residents are still struggling to process the disappearance of the girls as security agencies began a massive search-and-rescue operation.
During a visit to the school on Tuesday, eyewitnesses recounted how the armed men operated freely for more than an hour before escaping with the students into the forest.
The incident has drawn comparisons to the 2014 Chibok schoolgirl abduction and the 2021 attack on Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, where dozens of students were kidnapped.
“I Pretended to Fetch the Key and Locked Myself In”
The hostel matron, Hajia Maryam Bello, who has served at the school for nearly 20 years, said she first sensed trouble when one of the students began crying around 3 a.m.
“I looked through the window and saw many people surrounding the place,” she said.
One of the attackers began calling her by her nickname: “‘Mama, mama, please open the door,’ he was shouting,” she recalled. Sensing danger, she pretended to fetch the key but quickly locked herself inside her room.
She said the attackers repeatedly tried to break down her door with a machete but were unsuccessful. They then moved to the girls’ hostel, where they kidnapped several students.
“I have never witnessed anything like this since I started working here,” she said tearfully.
“My Daughter Told Me Her Sister Had Been Taken”
A parent, Abubakar, described the moment he received the news while praying in the mosque.
“When I got to the school, I saw my younger daughter outside. I asked her about her elder sister, Khadija, and she said the bandits had taken her. I almost collapsed,” he said.
His younger daughter survived by hiding in a room with three other girls. The bandits threatened to kill them if they refused to come out. The others obeyed, but she remained in hiding.
Vice Principal’s Wife Recounts Final Moments
The wife of the slain Vice Principal said the gunmen broke into their home first.
“We heard noises around 3:30 a.m. My husband thought it was animals. Then they broke down the door and shot him,” she said.
She said the attackers ordered her to follow them, but she refused. They then forced her daughter at gunpoint to take them to the girls’ hostel.
“When they saw the students, they left my daughter and went after the girls,” she added.
Another parent, Mallam Lawali, said his 12-year-old daughter, Hawau, was among the abducted.
“My wife hasn’t eaten since the incident. We want the government to help us. They must bring our daughters back,” he pleaded.
Army Chief: “Failure Is Not an Option”
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, arrived in Kebbi on Tuesday and ordered troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to intensify their search for the girls.
“We must find these children. Act decisively and professionally. Success is not optional,” he told soldiers.
He also met with vigilantes and hunters, urging them to support the search using their knowledge of the terrain.
Governor Idris: “Everything Humanly Possible Will Be Done
Kebbi Governor Nasir Idris visited the school and met with families of the victims, assuring them that all available resources would be deployed to rescue the girls.
A statement from his aide, Abdullah Idris, explained that a combined team led by the Deputy Governor and Secretary to the State Government had begun extensive search operations across forests in Kebbi and neighboring Zamfara.
The state government also dismissed social media claims that security operatives were withdrawn from the town a day before the attack, describing the allegation as “malicious and politically motivated.”
Senate, UNICEF, NBA, First Lady Condemn Attack
The attack drew national outrage.
In the Senate, lawmakers demanded stronger protection for schools.
Senator Ahmad Lawan warned that Nigeria risks losing a generation if school attacks continue.
Senator Solomon Lalong questioned the effectiveness of the World Bank–funded Safe School programme.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio condemned the attack and called for immediate rescue efforts, before leading senators into a closed-door meeting.
UNICEF called the incident a stark reminder of the need to protect children and schools. The organisation demanded the immediate release of the abducted students and urged full implementation of the Safe Schools Declaration.
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The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) described the attack as “a national shame,” accusing authorities of allowing terrorism to fester. The NBA noted that at least 145 people were abducted across three states within four days and urged the government to launch a coordinated rescue mission.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu said the incident was “an attack on learning and national values” and assured that President Bola Tinubu had directed security agencies to secure the girls’ release.
“I pray for the safe return of the abducted girls, and may the Vice Principal’s soul rest in peace,” she said.
Community in Fear
Following the attack, many families are sleeping outside their homes, fearing another raid. Local hunters, vigilantes, and security forces continue search operations across surrounding forests, while parents remain at the school daily, hoping for updates on their missing daughters.
