Reminiscent of school attacks years ago, a new of fear has gripped Nigeria as the Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State quakes after armed bandits launched a late-night assault on the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, located in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area. The raid resulted in the killing of the school’s vice principal and the abduction of a number of students.
The attack occurred in the early hours of Monday, November 17, 2025.
According to reports, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, the vice principal, was shot and killed while trying to protect his students from the attackers.
The assailants also abducted a number of female students, though the exact number remains unclear.
According to Reuters and police sources, 25 students were taken.
Some residents said that in addition to killing the vice principal, the bandits shot the school principal, and wounded a security guard.
Murjanatu Hassan Gishiri, a local resident, confirmed the assault and described the atmosphere in the community as one of terror and mourning.
She said the attackers came in large numbers, “overpowered the area without any resistance.”
The slain vice principal is being remembered by the community as a dedicated educator who sacrificed his life for his students.
Residents are calling on both state and federal authorities to act quickly — to rescue the abducted students and to bolster security around schools and vulnerable communities.
The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the incident.
Security operatives have reportedly been dispatched to the school, and tracking operations are underway to locate the fleeing bandits and rescue the students.
As of now, security agencies have not issued a detailed public statement on the number of abducted students or further operational plans.
This attack is part of a growing pattern of insecurity in northwestern Nigeria, where armed bandit groups frequently target educational institutions.
Kebbi State has a history of such attacks: for example, in 2021, over 80 students and several staff were kidnapped from a school in Birnin Yauri.
The conflict between bandit groups and communities in the region has been ongoing for years, involving mass shootings, cattle rustling, kidnapping, and other forms of violence.
Locals are demanding urgent government intervention: enhanced protection for schools, improved intelligence gathering, and more proactive rescue efforts.
There is also pressure on security agencies to not only respond to this incident but to develop preventive measures to stop future attacks.
The death of the vice principal, especially in the act of defending students, underscores how perilous school leadership has become in such conflict zones.
The lack of clarity on how many students were taken highlights challenges in timely and accurate information flow in crisis situations.
This incident could worsen distrust among communities toward security institutions, especially if rescue operations are delayed or perceived as ineffective.
It may also reignite debates over school security funding, the use of local vigilante groups, and paths to longer-term stability in regions frequently targeted by bandits.
