In a deeply emotional gathering, residents of Maga town in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area have held a special prayer session, calling on God to ensure the safe release of 25 schoolgirls abducted from their school and to console the community after the tragic death of a school vice principal.
On Monday dawn, armed gunmen stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, shooting sporadically, engaging with security personnel, and eventually scaling the school’s perimeter. In the assault, the vice principal of the school, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, was shot and killed while reportedly trying to protect his students. The attackers then abducted 25 female students from their dormitories.
As word of the kidnapping spread, shock and grief enveloped the town. On Wednesday and into Thursday, in a show of collective faith and solidarity, community members, religious leaders, parents, and local authorities gathered for sustained prayers — pleading for the girls’ safe return and for strength to endure their loss. According to reports, prayers at the gathering invoked both Islamic and Christian traditions, reflecting the religious diversity of the area and the unity of purpose in this crisis.
In his remarks during the prayer session, a local imam called on the faithful to remember that in their despair, prayer is not just a symbol but a source of power. He urged families to remain hopeful and united, stressing that the strength of Maga’s community lies not just in mourning, but in believing. A pastor present at the gathering echoed the imam’s appeal, emphasizing that the whole of Kebbi State, and indeed Nigeria, must stand together in the face of such violence.
Community leaders also used the gathering to pay tribute to Vice Principal Makuku, who is being hailed as a hero by many in the region. Several speakers described him as courageous, underscoring that his death occurred while defending his students — a sacrifice that has deeply saddened parents and staff alike.
Beyond the spiritual gathering, calls for urgent, concrete action have come from multiple quarters. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) condemned the attack in strong terms, demanding a swift and coordinated rescue operation. Several civil society groups have also joined the chorus. For instance, the northern women’s coalition Voices for Inclusion and Equity for Women (VIEW) said the kidnapping is “a direct challenge to Nigeria’s leadership and collective humanity” and called for more protection for girls in the region.
On the government side, President Bola Tinubu has made the situation a national priority. He dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi to engage directly with the families, the state government, and clergy, offering condolences and assurances. According to official statements, the president has ordered the security agencies — including military forces — to use every available resource to locate the abducted girls and bring them home safely.
In response to the abduction, Save the Children International also issued a strong condemnation. The organization urged authorities to strengthen protections around schools, particularly in Nigeria’s northwest, where increasing violence is threatening the safety of young students, especially girls.
Residents of Maga, meanwhile, say they are acutely aware of the ongoing risks in their region. The area has seen repeated attacks, and the community is urging long-term solutions — not only for the return of the kidnapped girls but also for the long-term security of students and educators.
As the prayer session wound down, there was a shared sense of resolve in the crowd — a determination that faith must be matched by action. One mother, clutching a photo of her missing daughter, vowed not to rest until she hears her child’s voice again. Another father said the community will hold more vigils if necessary, and that every prayer will also be a demand: for justice, for protection, and for the dignity of every child in Kebbi.
For now, the nation watches closely. The prayers in Maga may be spiritual in origin, but for many, they carry a firm message: the girls must return. And in their absence, the community will not be silent.
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