By A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, who is leading President Donald Trump’s investigation into alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, has condemned the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State. He also urged the Nigerian government to take stronger action to curb the escalating violence across the country.
Moore, in a post on his official X account, called for prayers and expressed alarm over the growing insecurity.
“Please join me in praying for the 25 girls who have been kidnapped and for the repose of the soul of their vice principal who was killed,” he wrote.
“While we don’t have all the details on this horrific attack, we know that the attack occurred in a Christian enclave in Northern Nigeria.
“The Nigerian government must do more to end the rampant violence.”
Earlier, the online news platform SaharaReporters reported that at least 25 students were abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, early Monday morning, November 17, 2025, according to the Kebbi State Police Command.
The attack, carried out by heavily armed terrorists, left one staff member dead and another injured. This was disclosed in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi.
The incident reportedly occurred around 4:00 a.m., when the assailants stormed the school and engaged the police officers on duty in a fierce gun battle.
Despite the officers’ efforts, the attackers scaled the school’s perimeter fence and forcibly removed the students from their hostel.
The police spokesperson confirmed that one Hassan Makuku lost his life during the assault, while another staff member, Ali Shehu, sustained gunshot injuries to his right hand.
The dormitories where gunmen kidnapped schoolchildren in Kebbi, Nigeria, on Monday.
Reacting to the attack, the Commissioner of Police, Bello Muhammad Sani, deployed additional police tactical teams, alongside military personnel and vigilante groups, to strengthen operations in the area.
In response to the growing concern, the Federal Government vowed to act swiftly to secure the release of the abducted students.
The pledge was contained in a statement issued by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, on Monday, November 17, 2025.
“The Federal Government expresses deep concern and solidarity with the families of the female students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. We share in their pain and are firmly committed to bringing the girls home safely,” the statement read.
President Bola Tinubu, the statement added, has emphasised the administration’s constitutional obligation to safeguard citizens. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated that protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, remains a solemn responsibility of the State. The government condemns the reprehensible attack on innocent students and the killing of school officials who were carrying out their noble duty.”
According to the statement, security agencies have been directed to intensify search-and-rescue operations.
“Our security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate, rescue, and safely return the students, and to ensure that the perpetrators face justice. The Federal Government will not relent until this objective is achieved.”
Reaffirming its commitment to public safety, the statement continued: “We assure Nigerians that strengthening internal security remains a top priority.”
“The Federal Government is recalibrating the nation’s military, policing, and intelligence capabilities to more effectively prevent these attacks and respond with greater speed and precision whenever threats arise.”
