Kebbi community holds special prayer for safe return of abducted schoolgirls

Residents of Maga in the Danko-Wasagu area of Kebbi State will today (Friday) hold a special prayer session as the search continues for the schoolgirls abducted earlier in the week.

The District Head of Maga, Muhammad Sanid Dantani, told our correspondent on Thursday that the community remains devastated by the incident and is turning to prayer while security agencies intensify rescue operations.

“We have agreed to gather on Friday to pray for the safe return of our daughters,” he said. “Everyone here is traumatised, and at this point, prayer is the strongest weapon we have.”

The incident occurred in the early hours of Monday when armed bandits stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, and kidnapped 25 students. The attack has triggered nationwide outrage and renewed debate over school security in the northern region.

Community leaders say the raid happened barely an hour after security personnel assigned to protect the school allegedly withdrew from their posts—a development they believe may have left the school vulnerable.

The abduction adds to the long list of school attacks across northern Nigeria since the Chibok kidnappings in 2014. Kebbi State has also suffered previous school-related attacks, particularly in Yauri and neighbouring communities, leaving parents in perpetual fear.

Since the incident, residents have held nightly gatherings, offering comfort to the affected families and urging government authorities to act quickly. Friday’s special prayer is expected to attract clerics, traditional rulers, local officials and community members.

According to the district head, the session will also include prayers for lasting peace across the North-West, which continues to record violent attacks despite ongoing military operations.

Earlier in the week, Governor Nasir Idris visited the community, assuring parents that the state government is coordinating closely with security agencies to ensure the students are rescued unharmed.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, also pledged that the federal government will deploy every necessary resource to secure the return of the abducted schoolgirls.

Similar prayer sessions were held in Zuru on Wednesday and Thursday as the region rallies together in hope and solidarity.