Mass Abductions Surge Again as 145 People Go Missing Across Three States in Four Days

Nigeria is once again confronting a terrifying resurgence of mass kidnappings, a grim reminder of a security crisis that has persisted for more than a decade. Over the past four days alone, at least 145 people have been abducted across Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara States, signaling a worrying escalation at a time when political activities are heating up ahead of the 2027 general elections.

This recent spike has sparked renewed alarm among citizens, analysts, and political watchers. In the months preceding the 2023 elections, Nigeria saw a similar wave of abductions. Data published by The PUNCH revealed that between January and March 2023, no fewer than 792 individuals were kidnapped in various regions of the country. Many of those abductions were linked to organized banditry and criminal enclaves that operate primarily in northern Nigeria. Now, with political parties mobilizing once more, the nation appears to be reliving the same dark pattern.

The latest tragedy erupted in the early hours of Monday when armed assailants invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. The gunmen reportedly launched their attack around 4:00 a.m., shooting indiscriminately as they advanced into the school premises. Their raid resulted in the abduction of 25 female students, while a staff member, identified as Hassan Makuku, was killed on the spot. A school guard, Ali Shehu, sustained gunshot injuries.

According to the Nigeria Police Force, whose statement was circulated through its WhatsApp channel, tactical teams deployed within the vicinity engaged the attackers in a gun battle. However, the bandits succeeded in scaling the school’s perimeter fence and escaping with the abducted girls. The police announced that additional tactical squads, assisted by soldiers and local vigilante groups, had been deployed to track the bandits across suspected hideouts, forests, and transit routes commonly used by the criminal gangs.

State and federal officials have likewise issued strong condemnations. Kebbi State Commissioner of Police, Bello Sani, urged residents to remain calm and support ongoing rescue operations, promising that the command was fully committed to tracking down the perpetrators.

The Kebbi abductions came on the heels of deadly violence in Niger State, where at least 16 vigilante members were reportedly killed in Mashegu Local Government Area and 42 villagers kidnapped during coordinated attacks. Just days earlier, Zamfara State witnessed its own wave of terror. In separate incidents, gunmen attacked communities in Tsafe and Maru LGAs, killing residents and abducting dozens—including 64 people from Fegin Baza village and 14 others from Tsohuwar Tasha—many of whom were women and children.

Reports from Daily Trust indicate that several other communities in Zamfara—spanning Zurmi, Shinkafi, Maradun, Tsafe, and Bungudu—have endured repeated assaults in recent months. Residents face relentless extortion through imposed levies and ransoms demanded by bandit groups who now operate with alarming boldness.

Government Pledges Swift Rescue

The Federal Government, through Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, condemned the Kebbi school attack, calling it “reprehensible” and reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerians, especially schoolchildren. Idris stated that security and intelligence agencies had been directed to immediately locate and rescue the abducted girls, stressing that no effort would be spared.

Similarly, the Minister of Defence, Bello Matawalle, denounced the attack, insisting that all relevant security agencies have been mobilized to secure the students’ release. He appealed for calm among affected communities, urging them to trust ongoing operations.

Political Figures and Opposition Parties React

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed devastation over the Kebbi school attack and other incidents, stating that they reflect the worsening insecurity confronting the country. He also condemned recent killings and mass kidnappings in Zamfara and other northern states, arguing that Nigeria cannot continue on its current trajectory.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in its official response, criticized the Federal Government for failing to contain the escalating wave of insecurity. It insisted that the continuing violence contradicts the promises made by the current administration and urged President Tinubu to urgently recalibrate the nation’s security architecture.

Security Experts Weigh In

Retired Commissioner of Police Emmanuel Ojukwu noted that historically, Nigeria often experiences rising abductions in the run-up to elections, as political actors sometimes attempt to destabilize or intimidate opponents. He warned that human lives have increasingly become tools in political struggle.

However, another retired police commissioner, Ladodo Rabiu, argued that insecurity has become deeply entrenched and is no longer tied solely to election cycles. He stressed that negotiation with armed groups, corruption within security institutions, and inconsistent government strategies have contributed to the persistence of kidnappings.

Retired AIG Wilson Inalegwu called for strengthening local-level policing, better community engagement, and dramatic improvements in manpower across the security agencies, noting that many police formations operate with less than a third of the personnel they require.