Fresh Security Crisis Hits Nigeria with Dual Attacks
Nigeria is grappling with a severe security emergency following two devastating attacks that have exposed the nation's vulnerability to armed groups. The abduction of 25 female students from a secondary school in Kebbi State and the reported execution of a senior army officer by ISWAP militants in Borno have triggered nationwide alarm and renewed calls for security sector overhaul.
Kebbi School Attack: 25 Girls Taken, Vice-Principal Killed
Armed bandits stormed Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, located in the Danko-Wasagu area of Kebbi State, in the early hours of Tuesday. The attackers, described by local residents as a large group of well-armed men, scaled the perimeter fence around 4:00 a.m. while firing sporadically to create panic.
The assailants killed Vice Principal Mr. Hassan Makuku during the assault and injured security guard Ali Shehu before seizing 25 female students from their hostel. Witnesses reported seeing the gunmen marching the abducted girls into nearby forests, sparking immediate search operations.
CSP Nafiu Abubakar Kotarkoshi, the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed the incident, stating that police tactical units engaged the attackers in a gun duel but were unable to prevent the abduction. "The suspected bandits had already scaled through the fence of the school and abducted 25 students from their hostel to an unknown destination," he explained.
Security forces including police tactical squads, military personnel, and local vigilantes have launched comprehensive search operations across bandit routes and nearby forests. The Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, has reassured residents of the command's determination to secure the students' safe return.
Military Tragedy: ISWAP Claims Execution of Brigadier-General
As authorities battled to locate the missing schoolgirls, the military faced a separate crisis in Borno State where Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants claimed responsibility for ambushing and executing a senior army officer.
Brigadier-General M. Uba of the 25 Task Force Brigade was leading a convoy returning from patrol near Wajiroko village when it came under sustained gunfire on Friday. The officer had previously participated in a successful joint air-ground operation against insurgents in the area.
ISWAP announced through its Amaq propaganda channel that they had captured, interrogated, and executed the brigade commander. This claim contradicts earlier military statements that described abduction reports as "fake news."
Military sources revealed that the Brigadier-General managed to send his live location to colleagues before his capture. Troops traced the signal but found no trace of the officer, with uncertainty surrounding whether his phone battery died or was seized by the terrorists.
The Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abubakar, and the Sector 2 Commander immediately traveled to Damboa to coordinate rescue efforts and boost troop morale following the devastating incident.
National Response: Tinubu Orders Rescue, Leaders Demand Overhaul
President Bola Tinubu has issued "clear directives" to security and intelligence agencies to locate and safely recover the abducted Kebbi students. In a statement through Information Minister Mohammed Idris, the President condemned the attack and vowed that perpetrators would face justice.
"President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, remains a solemn responsibility of the State," the statement read. "The Federal Government will not relent until this objective is achieved."
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar joined the chorus of concern, describing the incidents as evidence of Nigeria's worsening insecurity. "Nigeria cannot continue on this path," Atiku declared, urging the Federal Government to urgently review and strengthen security architecture across vulnerable communities.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo chieftain Goddy Uwazurike offered scathing criticism, labeling the security failures as "systemic" and highlighting disturbing parallels with previous administrations. "The common factor in both abductions is that the man who was the governor of Borno State when Chibok happened is today the Vice President," Uwazurike noted, referencing the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls abduction.
As search operations continue in both Kebbi and Borno states, parents and residents await news of the missing students while military families mourn the loss of a respected officer, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive security reforms in Africa's most populous nation.
