Students’ Abduction: Idris blames security personnel, Bago faults school authority

The Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has blamed the abduction 25 school girls at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of the state on security personnel on duty at the time of the incident.

The governor who demanded a full military investigation into abduction
queried the withdrawal of the security men from the school 45 minutes to the insurgents’ attack.

He made the call in Birnin Kebbi while receiving the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, on a solidarity visit.

Gov. Idris said he was “deeply disappointed” that security personnel pulled out of the school despite earlier intelligence alerts issued by the state government.

According to the governor, soldiers assigned to the area reportedly left at about 3:00 a.m., while the attackers struck barely 45 minutes later.

“We provided intelligence reports. We alerted them. So, who gave the orders for troops to withdraw at that critical hour?” Idris queried, calling for a full military investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The governor said the state had consistently raised security concerns, particularly in border communities vulnerable to bandit attacks. He noted that the withdrawal contradicted earlier assurances of enhanced protection for schools in the region.

Joe Ajaero, who led a delegation of the NLC, expressed solidarity with the state and the families of the abducted students, urging federal security agencies to ensure the girls’ safe rescue.

The abduction, which has drawn nationwide outrage, is the latest in a series of attacks targeting schools in Nigeria’s North-West, despite repeated government pledges to strengthen security around learning centres.

Also, the Niger State government blamed the kidnap of students in Agwara in the early hours of Friday on the school authority for ignoring security directive

The state government confirmed the abduction of an unverified number of pupils and staff from St. Mary’s School in the Papiri area of Agwara Local Government, describing the incident as deeply distressing and avoidable.

While the number of victims was put at over 100, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alh. Abubakar Usman said the government was still awaiting a precise headcount of those abducted as security agencies continue their assessment.

The SSG revealed that the attack occurred despite earlier intelligence pointing to an elevated threat level across parts of Niger North Senatorial District.

He said the government had, in response, issued a security directive suspending all construction activities and ordering the temporary closure of all boarding schools in the zone.

“Regrettably, St. Mary’s School proceeded to reopen and resume academic activities without notifying or seeking clearance from the State Government, thereby exposing pupils and staff to avoidable risk,” the statement said.

Usman added that security agencies have launched full-scale investigation and search-and-rescue operations aimed at ensuring the safe return of the abducted pupils. The government also assured the public that it remains in close communication with security formations and will provide updates as the situation unfolds.

“Authorities urged school proprietors, community leaders, and stakeholders to strictly adhere to security advisories, stressing that the protection of lives—especially those of children—remains the administration’s top priority. Residents were further encouraged to remain calm and support security personnel with any useful information.

Local accounts indicated that the attack happened between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Friday. Sources in the community said many students were taken during a raid targeting the Catholic-run school, though the exact number remains unclear as records were still being compiled.

The Police Command spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, said details would be provided later.

The shocking development comes just days after 25 students were kidnapped in Maga, Kebbi State, intensifying concerns over worsening security around schools across the northern region.

Meanwhile, governors in the northern region of the country have expressed deep worry about the recurring attacks on educational institutions in the north which have heightened anxiety among parents.
Under the auspice of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), the states executives condemned the abduction of pupils and teachers from St. Mary’s School in Agwara Local Government Area of Niger.

The forum demanded a swift, decisive and well coordinated action by security agencies to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted children and to prevent similar occurrences.

The forum Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, said this in a statement by his media aide, Ismaila Uba-Misilli, on Friday in Gombe.

He described the incident as a disturbing and unacceptable.

He said the attack was an affront on the safety of children, stating that schools must remain centres of learning, and not spaces for violence.

The governor that northern Nigeria could not afford further setbacks in its collective push to mop up out-of-school children and return them to the classroom.

“As a forum, we have consistently maintained that schools must remain sanctuaries of learning and growth, not theatres of fear, violence or terror.

“Northern Nigeria already contends with significant challenges and educational setbacks, and we cannot allow criminal elements to derail our collective efforts at returning out-of-school children back into the classroom,” he said.

Yahaya said that governors from the north would not fold their arms and watch criminal elements undermine their efforts and instil fear in young learners and the region in general.

He said the forum was particularly worried, especially at a time when governments across the north were investing heavily in creating safe, conducive and resilient learning environments.

“The rising trend of attacks on schools is worrisome and saddening.

“As governors, we will continue to work closely with the security agencies and all relevant stakeholders to strengthen intelligence gathering, enhance community vigilance and reinforce the protection of our schools.

“Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, on behalf of the forum, conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the parents of the abducted pupils, the school authorities and the government of Niger State, the ordeal is heart-breaking and deeply troubling,” he said.

Yahaya commended the ongoing search-and-rescue efforts and urged security agencies to intensify operations with utmost urgency.

The governor also urged the people to be calm and cooperate with security agencies by providing information that may aid rescue efforts.