By Tgnews Reporter
Palpable fear and mourning have enveloped Maga community and the entire Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State following a deadly midnight attack by suspected bandits on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) Maga in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.
The assailants, who struck in the early hours of Monday, allegedly shot and killed the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, while abducting an unspecified number of female students.
A resident of the community, Malama Murjanatu Hassan Gishiri, who spoke to journalists on Monday morning, confirmed the tragic incident. According to her, the heavily armed bandits invaded the school premises unhindered and operated for several minutes, triggering widespread panic.
“It was a heartbreaking tragedy that has thrown the entire region into deep fear and mourning,” Malama Gishiri said. “They came in large numbers and overpowered the area without any resistance.”
Eyewitness accounts revealed that the late Vice Principal was fatally shot while courageously attempting to shield the students from the attackers.
“Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku lost his life trying to protect the girls. He was a brave man who stood in the line of danger to save our children,” the grieving resident added.
Members of the community have since been holding special prayers for the repose of the deceased, beseeching Allah to grant him mercy and give his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
As of the time of filing this report, security agencies in the state, including the Police Public Relations Officer, were yet to issue an official statement on the attack.
Residents have, however, appealed to the Kebbi State Government and the federal authorities to expedite action toward rescuing the abducted students and deploy more security personnel to schools and vulnerable communities in the area, which have repeatedly come under bandit attacks in recent times.
The incident has once again highlighted the deteriorating security situation in parts of northern Nigeria, where schools have increasingly become soft targets for kidnappers and terrorists.
