Gunmen laid siege to a high school in Kebbi state, Nigeria, early Monday morning, abducting 25 schoolgirls and killing at least one staff member. The incident is part of a troubling trend of kidnappings in the region, where armed groups have increasingly targeted schools.
The assailants struck the boarding school at around 4 a.m., armed with sophisticated weapons. Police spokesperson Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi reported that the attackers exchanged fire with guards before carrying out the abduction.
Local residents indicated that the death toll may be higher than reported, suggesting that two individuals were killed during the raid. Witnesses noted that the attackers arrived on motorcycles, directly targeting the teacher’s house before proceeding to the dormitories.
Authorities have launched a search and rescue operation in the surrounding areas, combing likely escape routes to locate the kidnapped students and apprehend the perpetrators.
This latest incident highlights Kebbi state’s ongoing security challenges, where armed groups frequently engage in kidnappings for ransom. Since the infamous Chibok abduction in 2014, over 1,500 students have been kidnapped, creating a climate of fear and instability in the region.
