Armed assailants stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, on Monday, killing a teacher and abducting at least 25 students in one of the most serious school attacks in northern Nigeria in recent months.

Police said the attackers, described as a gang of armed bandits, invaded the school around 4:00 a.m. local time, engaging security personnel in a gunfight before breaching the perimeter fence and seizing students from their hostel. One staff member — Vice Principal Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku — was shot dead while attempting to protect the girls, and another member of staff sustained injuries and is receiving treatment.

Eyewitnesses reported that a large number of gunmen arrived firing sporadically, creating chaos before leading several students into nearby bushland.

Security agencies have deployed additional police tactical units, soldiers, and vigilante groups to launch a coordinated search-and-rescue operation across surrounding forests and suspected escape routes. Defense Minister Bello Mohammed Matawalle said the government has ordered an urgent response to secure the girls’ safe return.

Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, expressed solidarity with families of the abducted students, assuring them that the government is committed to bringing the girls home unharmed.

This abduction is the first major school kidnapping since March 2024, when more than 200 pupils were taken from Kuriga in Kaduna State. Over the past decade, northern Nigeria has faced repeated school attacks carried out by armed groups seeking ransom or leverage in dealings with authorities. While the government has banned ransom payments, the threat of kidnappings remains severe.

Children’s rights organizations say hundreds of students have been kidnapped since Boko Haram’s infamous 2014 abduction of 276 girls from Chibok. Rural schools remain particularly vulnerable, with rights groups warning that abductions often precede further abuses, including forced recruitment and sexual violence.

The attack in Maga has left families devastated as the search for the missing students intensifies.

The National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) has warned of a nationwide shutdown following an alleged attack on staff of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in Imo State.

In a statement from its Acting General Secretary, Dominic Igwebike, the union explained that the action became necessary after workers on duty at the Egbu 132/33kV Transmission Substation were reportedly beaten, held hostage at gunpoint, and some abducted by armed police officers allegedly acting on the orders of the state government.

The union stated that police officers forcefully entered the control rooms, vandalised equipment, and disrupted operations. Workers were allegedly held at gunpoint, assaulted, and taken to an undisclosed location.

The union confirmed that it has already instructed its members to halt power supply operations in Imo State until further notice.

It further warned that it would suspend services nationwide unless authorities immediately guarantee the safety and protection of electricity workers across the country.

The statement read:
“NUEE expresses deep shock and outrage over the level of gangsterism and unprofessional conduct displayed today by police officers acting on behalf of Imo State government.

“These officers forcibly invaded and vandalised the control rooms at Egbu 132/33KV Transmission Substation in an attempt to compel operators to grant an illegal outage.

“During the invasion, the officers allegedly disconnected power at gunpoint and held all staff on duty hostage, forcing them to open breakers under duress.

“They further unleashed violence on our members, beating, molesting and assaulting every staff member in sight. Personal belongings, including phones, laptops, and vehicles, were destroyed, while CCTV cameras were also vandalised.

“The police officers executed this brutal and barbaric assault on innocent workers and abducted them to an undisclosed location.

“NUEE strongly condemns this reprehensible act and demands the immediate release of our abducted members. We also call for a formal undertaking from TCN management, the Federal Ministry of Power, and the Inspector General of Police to ensure the protection of our members.

“Additionally, we demand the immediate replacement of all staff property damaged or taken away, and insist that all assaulted workers be provided with full medical attention.

“Consequently, NUEE directs all members to stay away from the office until further notice, as we cannot continue to work under conditions of brutality, intimidation, and threats to life. Work can only resume when the safety of staff and property is fully guaranteed.

“Failure to address these issues promptly will leave the union with no alternative but to withdraw our services nationwide until adequate safety and protection are secured at all workplaces.”

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), “to promptly account for and explain the whereabouts of the missing or diverted N3 trillion of public funds, as documented in the recently published 2022 annual report by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

SERAP stated that these serious allegations are detailed in the latest annual report released by the Auditor-General on 9 September 2025.

The organisation urged him to “identify those responsible for the missing or diverted public funds and hand them over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for further investigation and prosecution.”

SERAP further encouraged him “to ensure the full recovery and return of any missing public funds to the treasury without further delay.”

In a letter dated 15 November 2025 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the group wrote: “These grim allegations by the Auditor-General suggest grave violations of the public trust, the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], the CBN Act, and anticorruption standards.”

The organisation also noted, “These grave violations also reflect a failure of CBN accountability more generally and are directly linked to the institution’s persistent failure to comply with its Act and to uphold the principles of transparency and accountability.”

According to SERAP, “These violations have seriously undermined the ability of the CBN to effectively discharge its statutory functions and the public trust and confidence in the bank. The CBN ought to be committed to transparency and accountability in its operations.”

The letter read in part: “According to the Auditor-General, the CBN in 2022 failed to remit over N1 trillion [N1,445,593,400,000.00] of ‘the Federal Government’s portion of operating surplus’ into the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) account.”

“The Auditor-General fears that the money may have been ‘diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The CBN in 2022 failed to recover over N629 billion [N629,040,000,000.00] paid to ‘unknown beneficiaries’ as part of the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme, a programme ‘meant to support farmers to ensure sustainable food production in the country.’”

“But the number of beneficiaries who collected the money are unknown.’ The CBN has also failed to ‘recover the money.’ The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted’, which could have ‘contributed to the difficulty in sustaining food security in the Nation.’”

“He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The CBN has also failed to recover over N784 billion [N784,410,108,864.47] ‘being 32 unpaid, overdue loans and interventions disbursed by the Bank between 2018 and May 2022.’”

“The Auditor-General said ‘there was no evidence that the Bank was doing enough to recover the loans/interventions, which ought to have been paid.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The CBN in 2022 also spent over N125 billion [N125,374,000,000.00] ‘on questionable intervention activities.’ The CBN claimed it spent the money ‘on intervention activities in connection with national security, the federal government, state securities, armed forces and to build the capacity of the financial sector.’”

“But the Auditor-General is concerned that the money may have been spent ‘without the approval of the National Assembly.’ There was also no document to ‘support the expenditure.’”

“The ‘expenditure also may not have been in the public interest and consistent with the objectives of the CBN in section 2 of the CBN Act.’ The Auditor-General fears the money may have been ‘diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The CBN in 2022 also ‘unjustifiably’ spent over N1 billion [N1,792,769,160.00] to buy 43 operational vehicles for the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). The ‘spending is unjustified because there is no connection with buying operational vehicles for the NIS and the objectives of the CBN as stated in section 2 of the CBN Act.’”

“The NIS also ‘failed to provide any evidence to show that the vehicles were actually supplied and delivered.’ There ‘were also no procurement and payment records or documents.’ The Auditor-General fears the money may have been ‘diverted.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The CBN also awarded 43 contracts for over N189 billion [N189,50,066,756.73] but ‘the contractors deliberately delayed completion of these contracts’ by seeking ‘extension of the completion period.’”

“The contractors then ‘requested for variation of contracts due to extension of completion period.’ Following the request, the CBN paid the contractors over N9 billion [N9,270,849,691.61] ‘irregular variation of contract price.’”

“There were no relevant procurement documents such as contract files, procurement records, and payment vouchers’ for the payment. The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been diverted’ and the projects may have been abandoned.’ He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“The Katsina state branch of the CBN also failed to recover over N90 million [N90,163,610.00] being ‘outstanding loans and interventions disbursed to 33 small and medium enterprises during Covid-19 in 2020.’”

“The Auditor-General fears ‘the money may have been ‘diverted’ or ‘mismanaged’. He wants the money recovered and remitted to the treasury.”

“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within 7 days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and the CBN to comply with our request in the public interest.”

“Paragraph 708 of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides that, ‘on no account should payment be made for services not yet performed or for goods not yet supplied.’”

“Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.” Section 13 of the Constitution imposes clear responsibility on the CBN to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution.”

“Paragraph 3112(ii) of the Financial Regulations 2009 provides: ‘Where a public officer fails to account for government revenue, such officer shall be surcharged for the full amount involved and such officer shall be handed over to either the EFCC or the ICPC.’”

“Nigerians have the right to know the whereabouts of the public funds. Taking the recommended measures would advance the right of Nigerians to restitution, compensation and guarantee of non-repetition.”

“The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the country’s anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their public.”

The Nigeria Police Force has arrested a Catholic Reverend Father and six other suspects for allegedly supplying firearms and ammunition to bandits terrorising communities in Plateau State and neighbouring areas.

The arrests were announced on Sunday by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, during a parade of the suspects at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

According to police investigations, the priest and his accomplices were part of a syndicate that procured and distributed weapons, including AK-47 rifles and locally made pistols, to criminal elements operating across Plateau, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states.

The breakthrough came after the January 2025 arrest of one Joseph Tata in Mikang Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Tata’s confession led detectives to other members of the network, culminating in the priest’s arrest in Jos last week. Police say the cleric allegedly used his position to facilitate the movement of weapons without raising suspicion.

The Catholic Diocese of Jos has distanced itself from the allegations, stating that the priest has been placed on indefinite suspension pending the outcome of investigations. In a brief statement, the diocese described the development as “shocking and painful” and urged the public to allow law enforcement agencies to conclude their work.

Plateau State has been one of the epicentres of banditry and ethno-religious violence in Nigeria’s North-Central region, with thousands killed and displaced in the last five years.

Security analysts say the influx of illegal firearms continues to fuel attacks on farming communities, kidnappings, and reprisals between herders and farmers.

The police have assured the public that all suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, while efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing members of the syndicate.

The case has once again highlighted the complex networks sustaining insecurity in the country.