In a distressing incident that has shaken the nation, 24 schoolgirls were abducted by armed gunmen from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, Nigeria. The attack occurred in the early hours of Monday, when the assailants scaled the school’s fence, engaged in a gunfight with security personnel, and forcibly took the girls after killing a staff member. While no group has claimed responsibility, local analysts attribute the kidnapping to criminal gangs, often former herders, who target schools and communities for ransom amid ongoing resource conflicts in the region.
Among the abducted, 15-year-old Hawau Usman managed to escape during the chaos. She recounted her harrowing experience, stating that she fled when the gunmen were distracted and sought refuge at a teacher’s house after finding no response at the principal’s residence. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has since directed security agencies to act swiftly to rescue the remaining girls, emphasizing the disruption of education by what he termed ‘heartless terrorists.’
This incident is part of a broader pattern of school abductions in Nigeria, with over 1,500 students seized since the infamous Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping by Boko Haram in 2014. Analysts and residents have criticized the government for its failure to prosecute known attackers and address corruption, which has hampered security efforts. Usman Muhammad, whose daughter narrowly escaped, expressed his lack of trust in authorities until all the girls are safely returned and security measures are strengthened.
Security experts, including Abuja-based analyst Senator Iroegbu, have called for intelligence-driven operations to locate the abductors while ensuring the safety of the girls. Negotiations, potentially involving ransom, may be necessary if contact is established. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has mobilized military and vigilante groups to conduct relentless search operations in the region. Local residents, however, lament the insufficient number of vigilantes, who are more familiar with the terrain, and criticized security forces for ignoring prior warnings about suspicious activities in the area.
The abduction has reignited concerns about the safety of educational institutions in Nigeria, with calls for immediate action to prevent future tragedies.