Maga Community Holds Special Prayer Over Kebbi Schoolgirls’ Abduction •

As the search for the abducted Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, students intensifies, the community has resorted to divine intervention, holding a special prayer session for the safe return of the students abducted earlier this week.

The Chairman of the Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, Hussaini Aliyu, confirmed the development in a phone interview with our correspondent on Friday.

He explained that though he would not be able to attend the prayer session due to a series of official engagements, he had mandated his deputy to represent him.

Aliyu noted that the entire community was still deeply shaken by the incident and had turned to spiritual supplication as authorities intensified efforts to rescue the victims.

“The community has decided to gather on Friday for a special prayer for the safe return of our daughters,” he said.

“The whole community is traumatised, and we believe prayer is our strongest weapon at this moment,” the district head added.

Armed bandits invaded the school in the early hours of Monday and kidnapped 25 students, sparking widespread outrage and renewed calls for stronger security around schools in the North-West.

Gov Orders Probe

Meanwhile, the State Governor, Nasir Idris, has queried the withdrawal of military personnel from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, shortly before the abduction of students by bandits.

Idris raised the concern on Friday in Birnin Kebbi while receiving the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, who paid him a sympathy visit over the incident.



He said the situation was unfortunate, especially as the government had received intelligence reports on a planned attack and immediately convened a security meeting.

“As a responsive government, when we received intelligence on a possible attack, we summoned a security meeting.

“The security agencies assured us that all was well and that personnel would be mobilised to the school.

“The military was deployed, but they later withdrew by 3 a.m., and by 3:45 a.m., then the incident happened,” he added.

The governor said the state had demanded a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal.

“Who authorised the military to withdraw? How did security personnel pull out at such a critical time?

“That is our concern. We have asked the military to investigate and identify who gave that order,” he said.