In a brazen pre-dawn attack on Monday, armed assailants stormed a boarding school in Nigeria’s northwestern Kebbi state, abducting 25 schoolgirls and killing at least one staff member. The incident, which occurred in the Maga area of Danko-Wasagu, underscores the persistent security challenges plaguing the region. Police spokesperson Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi confirmed the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, engaged in a firefight with guards before seizing the students from their dormitories at 4 a.m. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the abduction, and the motives remain unclear. A coordinated search and rescue operation is underway, with security forces combing suspected escape routes and surrounding forests. One fatality and one injury were officially reported, though a local resident claimed two deaths occurred during the raid. Nigeria has faced escalating violence from armed bandits, who frequently kidnap for ransom, particularly in the mineral-rich but poorly policed northern regions. While not linked to militant groups like Boko Haram, these bandits have terrorized communities, targeting schools since the infamous 2014 Chibok abduction, which saw 276 students taken. Despite some progress in reducing school raids through enhanced security measures, the latest incident highlights the ongoing vulnerability of educational institutions in the region.