Terror Before Dawn: 25 Schoolgirls Abducted in Kebbi as Bandits Strike Again Amid Nationwide Security Fears
By Passman Akpos
In yet another chilling reminder of Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, armed bandits in the early hours of Monday, November 17, 2025, stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko District of Danko/Wasagu LGA, Kebbi State, abducting 25 female students and killing one civilian during a violent raid.
The attack occurred around 4:00 a.m., when a gang of heavily armed bandits, shooting sporadically, breached the school premises. Police tactical units stationed at the school engaged the gunmen in a fierce gun duel, but the assailants had already scaled the perimeter fence and seized the students from their hostel, fleeing with them to an unknown destination.
According to police authorities, one Hassan Makuku, a civilian, was shot dead during the assault, while Ali Shehu sustained a gunshot injury to his right hand.
Following the attack, a joint deployment of additional police tactical units, military personnel, and vigilante groups has been dispatched to the area. The combined forces are currently combing possible escape routes and surrounding forests in a coordinated effort to rescue the abducted students and apprehend the perpetrators.
In an official statement, Commissioner of Police, Kebbi State Command, CP Bello M. Sani, condemned the “dastardly and heart-wrenching attack,” affirming the Command’s unwavering commitment to protecting the lives and property of Kebbi residents. He urged the public to remain calm, vigilant, and supportive of ongoing security operations.
Police Public Relations Officer CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi, who signed the statement, reiterated that every resource is being mobilized to ensure the safe return of the abducted girls.
Earlier Reports Painted an Even Darker Picture
Initial accounts from Tarakirivoice, HumAngle, and SaharaReporters indicated widespread panic during the raid, with assailants unleashing sustained gunfire as students prepared for their morning routines. A school guard was reported critically injured, and residents claimed the attackers “have not gone far,” pleading for immediate state and federal intervention before the captors regroup.
The Kebbi tragedy comes less than 24 hours after another violent incident in Rogun Village, Patigi LGA of Kwara State, where terrorists attacked a police outpost. The resulting gunfight, described by security sources as prolonged and intense, claimed the lives of a police constabulary officer and a vigilante personnel.
A Nation Under Siege
Security analysts warn that the dual attacks highlight a dangerous escalation across the Northwest and North Central regions, where communities increasingly find themselves at the mercy of heavily armed criminal networks.
As families in Kebbi endure the torment of uncertainty, waiting for news of their missing children, Nigerians nationwide are demanding more decisive, coordinated counter-terrorism actions to stem what many fear is a deepening wave of unchecked violence.
Authorities say search and rescue operations are ongoing, with updates expected as the situation unfolds.
