The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) on Monday, the 17th of November, 2025, vehemently condemned the tragic bandit attack in Kebbi State, which involved the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, GGCSS, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, and the killing of the school’s vice principal, Malami Hassan Yakubu Makuku.
In response to the assault, NSGF Chairman and Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Yahaya, released a statement signed by his aide, Ismaila Misilli, describing the action as “tragic, senseless, and utterly unacceptable.” Yahaya underscored the grave threat posed by the continued targeting of educational facilities, noting that it endangers both the stability of the Northern region and the future of the nation’s education system.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, Governor Yahaya extended heartfelt condolences to the Kebbi State government, the families of the students who were abducted, and the relatives of those who lost their lives. He assured Governor Nasir Idris of the Forum’s unwavering support and solidarity during this challenging time.
Yahaya delivered a powerful statement emphasizing the sanctity of learning institutions: “Schools must be sanctuaries of learning, not targets of violence. Continued assaults on educational institutions threaten to reverse gains made in improving school enrolment and curbing the out-of-school crisis in the region,” Yahaya said.
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Expressing deep concern for the psychological distress being endured by the abducted schoolgirls, the NSGF Chairman called for “an immediate and well-coordinated operation by security agencies to ensure their safe rescue and the arrest of the perpetrators.”
Reaffirming the NSGF’s commitment to collaborating with the Federal Government and security institutions, Yahaya stressed that the safety, education, and welfare of young Nigerians remain a top priority for the governors.
He concluded by offering prayers for the swift and safe return of the kidnapped students, while also urging local communities to “remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies in efforts to eliminate criminality in the region.”