Authorities in Nigeria’s Kebbi State have launched a major search operation after 25 female students were kidnapped from a secondary school in the early hours of Monday.
The students were taken from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, following an attack by gunmen armed with sophisticated weapons. The incident was confirmed by police spokesperson CSP Nafi’u Abubakar in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi.
According to Abubakar, the assault began at around 4 a.m. on 17 November, when the armed group invaded the school while firing sporadically. Police units deployed nearby engaged the attackers, but the gunmen had already scaled the fence and seized the girls from their hostel.
One civilian, Hassan Makuku, was killed during the attack, and another, Ali Shehu, suffered a gunshot wound to his right hand.
Abubakar said that following the report, police reinforcements, military teams, and local vigilantes were mobilised to pursue the kidnappers through forested areas believed to be their escape routes. The search-and-rescue mission is ongoing.
He added that Police Commissioner Bello Sani had assured the public of the command’s determination to protect lives and property. The police appealed to residents to remain composed and continue supporting security agencies in maintaining order.
