Terror in Maga: Bandits Storm Girls' School
Gunmen unleashed terror at the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School in Maga, Danga Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, in the early hours of Monday, November 17, 2025. The armed bandits killed the Vice Principal and abducted 26 students during the brutal invasion that has left the community in shock.
Survivor's Harrowing Account
Khadijat Lawal, a Senior Secondary School 3 student, narrowly escaped abduction by hiding in a school toilet while her two sisters were among those taken by the attackers. Speaking through her father, Malam Lawal Altine, Khadijat described how the nightmare unfolded just before 5am.
"We were sleeping in our hostel when we heard people talking outside and trying to force the door open," Khadijat recounted. "Minutes later, they started shooting sporadically into the air. My two sisters and I rushed to hide in one of the school's toilets."
The situation turned more terrifying when the bandits burst into the hostel. "My two sisters panicked and came out from where they were hiding in the toilet," she explained. "They were immediately marched out with other girls who had been taken from other hostels in the school."
Khadijat remained locked in the toilet until parents arrived at the school searching for their children. "My daughter refused to open the door until she heard my voice," said Malam Altine, who had three children in the school. "She was lucky, but her other sisters are still missing. I'm worried and sick about their whereabouts."
Community in Anguish
About 24 hours after the abduction, distraught parents remained gathered at the school premises, hoping for news about their children's return. Hajiya Rani Maga, mother of one of the abducted girls, has not left the school since Monday morning.
"I don't think I can return home without my daughter," Hajiya Rani said, unable to control her tears. "Every minute my mind is with her. I don't know what is going on with her or where they took her and I'm afraid because she is in the hands of bad people."
She appealed to both state and federal governments: "I know government has intervened and given us hope that our daughters will return to us; but how soon? I appeal to both the state and federal government to urge security agents to find our daughters as soon as possible. The longer they stay with captors the more dangerous the situation will be."
Witness to Tragedy
Amina Hassan, wife of the school's head of security Yakubu Makuku who was killed during the attack, described the terrifying moments when bandits stormed their residence.
"It was around 4 am on Monday and my husband and I were in bed when we heard the entrance door being forced opened," she recalled. "I woke my husband up but he thought it was the goats that were there. But suddenly, armed men burst into our room and they asked him to take them to the girls' hostel."
When her husband refused to cooperate, the bandits shot him. "I rushed to hold him, but they pushed me aside and moved on to the hostel. I don't know how they managed to abduct the girls, but I heard them screaming and crying. It's still a nightmare to me."
The bandits also shot dead Ali Shehu, the school's gateman, during their operation.
Official Confirmation and Community Fear
The Kebbi State Government has clarified that 24 students remain with the bandits after two girls managed to escape. Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Dr. Halimatu Muhammad Bande confirmed that "Salmat and Hauwa escaped from them" following the abduction of 26 students.
Community member Abubakar Dabai expressed the widespread fear gripping the area. "Everyone is scared. We can't even go to our farms as we don't know what will happen next. But the governor was here yesterday and he assured us of our safety. He said government would deploy more security agents to find the girls."
Aminu Usman Lawal, father of abducted student Hauwa, echoed the community's anxiety: "Since the incident happened, people in the community have been living in fear; everyone feels insecure. Government should help us by deploying more security agents here so that people can feel safe enough to go to their farms and engage in their daily activities."
As the search continues for the missing students, parents like Fatima Ibrahim make simple but desperate pleas: "I just want my daughter back. I don't care about anything else. Please, just bring her back home safely."
