Teacher Killed, 25 Girls Abducted in Armed Attack on Nigerian School

A teacher has been killed and at least 25 female students abducted after armed men stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, early Monday morning.

Police say the attackers invaded the school at about 04:00 local time, engaging officers on duty in a gun battle before scaling the perimeter fence and seizing the girls from their hostel. One staff member died while attempting to protect the students, while another suffered gunshot wounds and is receiving treatment.

Eyewitnesses reported that a large group of armed bandits arrived firing indiscriminately to create panic. Residents told the BBC that the gunmen marched the abducted girls into nearby bushland shortly after the attack.

Security agencies say additional police tactical units, military personnel, and community vigilante groups have been deployed. A coordinated search-and-rescue mission is underway across surrounding forests and suspected escape routes.

Northern Nigerian schools have faced repeated attacks over the past decade, with armed groups frequently abducting students for ransom or to pressure authorities. Nigeria has outlawed ransom payments, but kidnappings remain a persistent threat.

This incident is the first major school abduction since March 2024, when more than 200 pupils were kidnapped in Kuriga, Kaduna State. The attack in Maga underscores the ongoing insecurity gripping the region, leaving families traumatized and desperately awaiting the safe return of their daughters.