Residents of Kebbi State have revealed that four days before the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, armed bandits had already kidnapped more than 40 women and their babies in the same local government area.
The earlier attack occurred on 12 November, when the women were taken from a rice farm in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area. Locals say bandits have been operating freely in the region for months, with most incidents going unreported until the 17 November raid on the school drew national and international attention.
Kabir Yusuf, a youth leader in Danko Wasagu town, said that the entire LGA is under the grip of a terrorist group.
He said the schoolgirls’ case was only one among many:
> “Even after the abduction of the schoolgirls, kidnapping for ransom continued. On 21 November, bandits invaded Unashi and Gandun-Wasagu and abducted several peasants. Over 90 people from this area are in captivity, and no one is speaking for them except their helpless families.”
Mr. Yusuf added that ongoing attacks have forced residents to flee the most vulnerable communities.
However, the state police spokesperson, Nafiu Abubakar, said he had not yet been briefed on the incidents.
The Kebbi kidnappings add to worsening insecurity nationwide. In Niger State, more than 300 students were captured from a Catholic school last week. In Kwara, bandits killed three church worshippers and abducted 38 others, who were later released. In Borno, terrorists recently killed a brigadier general and several security personnel in an ambush. In Abuja, a police officer died while foiling an attack by about 30 gunmen in Bwari Area Council.
The deteriorating security situation forced President Bola Tinubu to cancel his trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa, leaving Vice President Kashim Shettima to attend on his behalf.
