MAGAJI, Nigeria (FN) — Nigerian security forces have launched a sweeping rescue mission after gunmen abducted 25 female students from a secondary school in Kebbi State, officials said Monday.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Olufemi Waidi Shaibu, personally directed troops to conduct round‑the‑clock search‑and‑rescue operations in the region, underscoring the urgency of the mission. “We will not rest until every student is safely returned,” Shaibu told reporters during an operational tour.
The attack occurred at Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, a community in Danko‑Wasagu Local Government Area. Witnesses said armed men stormed the school in the early hours, killing Vice Principal Hassan Makuku and injuring a security guard before fleeing with the students.
Police tactical units engaged the attackers in a gun battle but were unable to prevent the abduction, according to state authorities. The assailants escaped into nearby forests, prompting a joint response from the army, police, and local vigilantes.
President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack and ordered security agencies to ensure the immediate rescue of the abducted girls. He described the incident as “an assault on Nigeria’s future” and pledged federal support for the operation.
Families in Maga have been left in anguish, waiting for word on their daughters. “We just want them back alive,” said one parent, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals. Community leaders have appealed for calm while urging residents to cooperate with security forces.
School kidnappings have become a recurring threat in northern Nigeria, where armed groups target educational institutions for ransom. The abduction in Kebbi echoes earlier mass kidnappings, including the 2014 Chibok case in Borno State and the 2021 Zamfara school raid.
Lt. Gen. Shaibu said troops under Operation Fansan Yanma would intensify patrols across border routes and suspected hideouts. He added that coordination with local vigilantes was critical to tracking the kidnappers’ movements.
International observers, including regional bodies such as ECOWAS and the African Union, have expressed concern over the attack. Analysts say the rescue mission will test Nigeria’s ability to respond swiftly to mass abductions and reassure communities shaken by insecurity.
As troops continue their search, the nation watches closely. Nigerians say they are praying not only for the safe return of the schoolgirls but also for the protection of the soldiers risking their lives in the rescue mission.
