URGENT UPDATE: Gunmen have launched a deadly attack on a government girls’ boarding school in Kebbi State, Nigeria, resulting in the tragic death of Vice Principal Hassan Yakubu Makuku and the abduction of 25 female students. The assault occurred around 4 AM local time on July 15, 2023, marking yet another horrifying incident in the ongoing crisis of mass kidnappings in northwest Nigeria.
Authorities confirm that the assailants, armed with rifles and utilizing coordinated tactics, stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town. In a fierce gunfight with police, the attackers breached the school’s perimeter fence and seized the students, according to police spokesperson Nafiu Abubakar Kotarkoshi. Tragically, Vice Principal Makuku was shot dead while attempting to resist the gunmen, and another staff member suffered gunshot wounds during the chaotic attack.
Following the incident, police deployed additional tactical units, soldiers, and local vigilantes to search for the victims, combing through suspected escape routes and surrounding forests. This urgent search-and-rescue operation raises concerns about the safety of schools in the region, which has experienced numerous abductions by armed gangs seeking ransom.
Despite government pledges to enhance security, incidents like this continue to plague northwest Nigeria. The infamous Boko Haram group, known for its mass kidnappings, previously abducted 270 schoolgirls in 2014 from the northeastern town of Chibok, with many victims still unaccounted for.
This latest attack underscores the escalating violence and insecurity faced by educational institutions in Nigeria. Parents and communities are left in fear and anguish as the search for the kidnapped students intensifies.
As authorities pursue the assailants and work to ensure the safe return of the abducted students, the situation remains fluid. Observers are urged to stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds.
