Gunmen Abduct 25 Girls From Nigerian School; Staff Member Killed - Worthy Christian News

In the early hours of Monday, gunmen launched a violent attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School located in Maga, within the Danko–Wasagu district of Kebbi State, northwest Nigeria. The assailants, armed with sophisticated weapons, managed to overpower the security personnel stationed at the school around 4:00 a.m. Local sources say the security forces briefly returned fire but were quickly overwhelmed. During the assault, the school's vice-principal was fatally shot while trying to resist the attackers. Although some reports hinted that a security guard may have also been killed, police have officially confirmed only the vice-principal’s death. Following the attack, the gunmen abducted 25 female students, fleeing into nearby forested areas. No organization has taken responsibility, but officials suspect that the perpetrators belong to armed "bandit" groups notorious for kidnapping schoolchildren in northwest Nigeria for ransom. These bandit groups operate independently of, though sometimes overlap with, Islamist insurgent factions known for similar tactics. This incident has raised fears among the Christian minority in the region, who have been increasingly targeted in recent years. This abduction echoes the infamous 2014 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping, where Boko Haram abducted 276 girls. It also fits a disturbing pattern of mass kidnappings involving Christian female students in northern Nigeria. Since the attack, police, military personnel, and local vigilantes have launched a search-and-rescue operation, combing through possible escape routes and surrounding forests to locate the missing girls. The security situation in Kebbi and neighboring states has steadily deteriorated, sparking renewed concerns over the protection of vulnerable communities and educational institutions. Christians in Nigeria have faced relentless violence for years, with thousands killed or abducted by Islamist militants and allied bandits. A recent report by the NGO Intersociety revealed that more than 7,000 Christians lost their lives during the first seven months of 2025 alone. According to the same report, since 2009, an estimated 18,500 Christians have been abducted, many of whom are believed not to have survived. The total Christian death toll caused by Islamist violence in Nigeria since 2009 exceeds 50,000. These staggering numbers have contributed to Nigeria ranking 7th on the Open Doors World Watch List, a measure of countries where Christians endure extreme persecution. The ranking reflects not only killings and kidnappings but also destruction of churches and homes, and widespread social discrimination against believers. As insecurity worsens, the plight of Christian communities, including schoolchildren, remains a dire concern. Efforts to improve security and protect vulnerable populations in the region are urgently needed to prevent further tragedies like the recent abduction in Kebbi State.