Kebbi School Attack: 25 Students Abducted, Staff Member Killed in Latest Northwest Nigeria Security Crisis
Kebbi State, Nigeria – Armed bandits stormed a secondary school in northwest Nigeria’s Kebbi State in the early hours of Monday, abducting 25 female students and killing a staff member in the latest attack highlighting the persistent security challenges facing educational institutions in the region.
Dawn Raid on Girls’ School
According to police statements, the attack occurred at approximately 4:00 a.m. on November 17, 2025, when heavily armed assailants breached the perimeter of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in Danko-Wasagu local government area.
The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that the attackers “scaled through the fence of the school and abducted Twenty Five students from their hostel to unknown destination” after engaging security forces in a gun battle.
Tragically, the assault resulted in the death of Hassan Makuku, a male staff member, while another employee, Ali Shehu, sustained injuries during the violent incursion.
Security Response and Ongoing Operations
Police tactical units stationed at the school responded to the attack, exchanging fire with the assailants. In the aftermath, authorities have deployed additional tactical units working in collaboration with military personnel and local vigilante groups to comb the area and locate the abducted students.
“We are working tirelessly to rescue the abducted students and bring the perpetrators to justice,” a police source stated in the immediate aftermath of the attack.
Kebbi State Commissioner of Police CP Bello M Sani reiterated the command’s “unwavering determination in safeguarding the lives and property of the residents of Kebbi State” amid the ongoing crisis.
Broader Context of School Attacks in Northwest Nigeria
This incident represents the latest in a series of attacks on educational institutions in northwest Nigeria, where criminal gangs frequently target schools for mass kidnappings. The pattern, which gained international notoriety with the 2014 Chibok school abduction, has continued despite government security measures.
The northwest region has experienced escalating violence from armed groups locally referred to as “bandits,” who operate across rural areas, engaging in kidnapping for ransom, cattle rustling, and other criminal activities. These groups have increasingly targeted educational institutions, creating what UNICEF has described as an “education crisis” in affected regions.
The attack has renewed concerns about school security in vulnerable areas and raised questions about the effectiveness of current protection measures for educational facilities in high-risk zones.
Community Impact and Official Response
As of Monday morning, the Kebbi State Government had not yet released an official statement on the incident, though authorities are expected to provide further details as the situation develops.
Police have appealed to the public “to remain calm, vigilant, and continue supporting Police operations for peace and stability to be maintained” during what represents another traumatic event for the community and the nation’s education sector.
The psychological impact of such attacks extends beyond the immediate victims, often leading to school closures, decreased enrollment, and heightened anxiety among students, parents, and educators throughout affected regions.
This report is based on information from the Kebbi State Police Command as published by Arewa Agenda.