Terrorists kidnap 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi

No less than 25 schoolgirls from Maga Comprehensive Girls’ Secondary School in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State were abducted by terrorists on Monday midnight.

The terrorists also reportedly killed a teacher, Hassan Makuku, and a local guard, simply identified as Ali, during the invasion.

According to locals, the terrorists, often referred to as bandits, infiltrated the area through Zamfara forests and operated unhindered despite two military checkpoints near the school.

“One of the checkpoints is in Damarke,” a source, who lives near Maga town, told newsmen. “It is under Bukkuyum Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and it is about seven kilometers from the school.”

The other checkpoint, according to locals and traditional leaders who spoke with our reporter, is less than a kilometre to the school.

“It is around Rabah junction in Maga,” a traditional ruler who pleaded anonymity for fear of being victimised, said. “The checkpoint is fortified with heavy military equipment including an armoured personnel carrier (APC).”

The traditional ruler estimated that 25 students were abducted.

“The school is a boarding school, and they only kidnapped the 25 students from one of the many hostels,” he added.

Attack could have been prevented

According to some community leaders, there was intelligence before the attack, and the Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, instructed soldiers at the Ribah junction checkpoint to mobilise to the school.

“The soldiers indeed went to the school and left around 12 a.m.,” one of the traditional leaders said. “It was after the soldiers left that the bandits struck.”

The police, the military, and the Kebbi State Government have not issued any statement about the incident.