Gunmen armed with “sophisticated weapons” attacked Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Danko-Wasagu, Kebbi State, early Monday, killing the school’s Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, and injuring a security guard, Ali Shehu, who sustained a gunshot wound to his right hand. During the raid, 25 female students were abducted.
Kebbi police spokesperson Nafi’u Kotarkoshi confirmed the incident and said a manhunt for the attackers is already underway. He added that one person was killed and another injured, though a local resident, whose daughter and granddaughter were among the abducted, believes the death toll may be two.“A joint team is currently combing suspected escape routes and nearby forests in a coordinated operation aimed at rescuing the students and apprehending the attackers,” Kotarkoshi said.
Since the Chibok kidnappings, at least 1,500 students have been abducted nationwide, as armed groups increasingly use kidnappings as a way to fund other crimes and assert control over villages in the country’s mineral-rich but poorly policed regions.
In response, President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to immediately rescue the abducted students. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the President strongly condemned the attack and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting all Nigerians, especially schoolchildren.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated that safeguarding every Nigerian, particularly schoolchildren, remains a core responsibility of the State. The government condemns this reprehensible attack on innocent students and the killing of school officials who were performing their duties,” Idris said.
The minister added that the President has issued clear directives to security and intelligence agencies to locate and safely recover the students, insisting that the perpetrators must face justice. Nigeria is also strengthening security cooperation through ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to enhance border security and dismantle terrorist and criminal networks.“We urge the public to remain calm and confident as security forces work tirelessly to resolve this situation,” Idris said.
Source: https://m.lindaikejisblog.com/
