Panic has gripped the Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State after armed bandits stormed Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, killing the vice principal and kidnapping several students.

Residents said the attackers stormed the school around midnight, firing shots as they advanced toward the dormitories. The vice principal, identified as Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, was reportedly shot dead while attempting to protect the students.

The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed the incident, stating that a joint search-and-rescue mission involving multiple security agencies has been deployed to trace the attackers and secure the safe return of the abducted students.

“The command has deployed additional tactical teams to comb the surrounding forests and block all suspected escape routes,” a police spokesperson said, assuring parents that efforts were underway to secure the students’ safe return.

The incident has sparked widespread fear among residents and renewed calls for stronger security measures across schools in the North-West, where bandit groups have repeatedly targeted educational institutions for kidnappings.

Community leaders and parents urged both state and federal authorities to act swiftly, warning that continued attacks on schools could further endanger children and disrupt education across the region.

The number of students kidnapped remains unclear, as authorities are yet to provide official details.