Khadijat Lawal, a Senior Secondary School 3 student of the Government Comprehensive Girls School, Maga in Dango Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, has recounted the traumatic events of Monday, November 17, 2025, when armed bandits invaded her school, killing the Vice Principal and abducting 26 students.
Khadijat, who went into hiding during the attack, told Daily Trust through her father, Malam Lawal Altine, that the day will remain etched in her memory.
According to Khadijat, the attack occurred shortly before 5 a.m. while students were sleeping in their hostel. She heard voices outside and the sound of the door being forced open, followed by sporadic gunfire. She and her two sisters hid in a school toilet, but her sisters panicked and were taken along with other students from different hostels. Khadijat remained concealed until she recognized her father’s voice calling her. “She was lucky, but her other sisters are still missing. I’m worried and sick about their whereabouts,” Malam Altine said.
By the following day, parents had remained at the school, anxiously awaiting news of their children. Hajiya Rani Maga, whose daughter is among the abducted students, has not left the school premises since the attack. She said she would not eat until her daughter returns. “I don’t think I can return home without my daughter. 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. I appeal to both the state and federal government to urge security agents to find our daughters as soon as possible,” she said through tears.
Amina Hassan, wife of the school’s head of security, Yakubu Makuku, who was killed during the attack, described witnessing her husband being shot. “It was around 4 a.m. on Monday when armed men burst into our room and asked him to take them to the girls’ hostel. He refused and they 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,” she said. Another staff member, Ali Shehu, the school gateman, was also shot during the attack.
Community members expressed shock and fear in the aftermath. Abubakar Dabai, a local resident, said people are too scared to farm or go about their daily activities. “The governor was here yesterday and assured us of our safety. He said government would deploy more security agents to find the girls. We want to believe him. We will also continue to pray for the quick return of our girls,” he said. Aminu Usman Lawal, father of one of the abducted girls, echoed the call for increased security presence, noting the pervasive fear in the community. Fatima Ibrahim, another mother, simply pleaded for her daughter’s safe return.
The Kebbi State Government clarified the number of abducted students on Tuesday. Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Halimatu Muhammad Bande, stated that 26 students were taken, not 25 as earlier reported. Two girls, Salmat and Hauwa, managed to escape, leaving 24 still in captivity. Dr. Bande said the clarification was necessary due to misleading media reports and confirmed that Governor Nasir Idris and the federal government have deployed security personnel to secure the girls. “Let us continue to pray for them. We don’t know where they are and what they are doing to the girls, but God will bring them back to us safely,” she said.
