THE Federal Government has strongly condemned Monday’s dawn attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where bandits shot dead the Vice-Principal and abducted 25 students.
In a statement by Information Minister Mohammed Idris, President Bola Tinubu described the incident as “reprehensible” and directed all security and intelligence agencies to leave no stone unturned in rescuing the girls unharmed and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The government assured Nigerians it is recalibrating military, policing and intelligence capabilities while deepening regional cooperation through ECOWAS and the MNJTF to crush terrorist networks.
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris rushed to Maga on Monday, held closed-door talks with security chiefs and traditional rulers, and personally reassured distraught parents.
“The unfortunate has happened, but we give you our word: we will do everything humanly possible to bring your daughters back,” the governor told the families.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle labelled the attack “unacceptable” and confirmed President Tinubu has ordered an immediate, coordinated response, urging residents to remain calm while security forces swing into action.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed devastation at the “barbaric” incident, linking it to a string of recent abductions and killings in Zamfara, Plateau, Benue and Kano.
He demanded an urgent overhaul of the nation’s security architecture, deployment of adequate personnel to vulnerable communities, and intelligence-led operations, warning that Nigeria “cannot continue on this intolerable path”.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) went further, accusing the Tinubu-led APC government of failing in its primary duty to protect lives and property.
In a scathing statement, the party said the Maga attack and other recent abductions “highlight the alarming rise in insecurity that has become the lived reality under this administration”, and challenged President Tinubu to act decisively instead of “politicising governance”.