Armed Men Abduct 25 Students in Nighttime Raid on Nigerian School
KEBBI STATE, Nigeria – In a brazen overnight attack, armed militants stormed a girls’ secondary school in Maga, Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria, killing a teacher and abducting at least 25 students, police confirmed on Thursday.
The assailants targeted the school’s hostel, where the students were residing. According to police accounts, the attackers exchanged heavy gunfire with security personnel stationed at the school before scaling the perimeter fence to gain entry.
A staff member at the school was shot and killed while attempting to protect the students during the chaotic incident. Another staff member was injured in the attack.
“The assailants were heavily armed and overpowered our security personnel in the fierce gunfight,” a police spokesperson said. “They subsequently abducted twenty-five students and fled the scene. A search and rescue operation is currently underway.”
No Claim of Responsibility Amid Rising Insecurity
As of Thursday, no group has claimed responsibility for the assault. However, the attack bears the hallmarks of armed bandit groups that are prevalent in northern Nigeria. These criminal factions frequently carry out mass kidnappings for ransom from schools, villages, and along major highways, contributing to a severe and ongoing insecurity crisis in the region.
The kidnapping in Kebbi State is the latest in a long series of school abductions that have plagued northern Nigeria, sparking national and international condemnation. The practice, which began with the infamous abduction of over 270 Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram in 2014, has evolved into a lucrative criminal enterprise for bandit groups.
The attack has further heightened fears among parents and local communities about the safety of educational institutions, particularly in areas where state security presence is limited.
The police have assured the public that air and ground assets are being deployed to track the kidnappers and secure the safe return of the abducted students. The incident has prompted urgent calls for a strengthened security strategy to protect vulnerable communities and schools in the region.
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