In a strongly worded statement, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the deadly attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State — an assault that left the school’s Vice-Principal dead and resulted in the abduction of 25 students.
Gunmen reportedly stormed the institution in Danko/Wasagu LGA on Sunday night, killing Vice-Principal Malam Hassan Makuku before taking dozens of schoolgirls into captivity. The attack is the latest in a series of coordinated assaults on educational institutions across northern Nigeria.
Reacting on his official X handle, Atiku described the incident as “a devastating reminder of the worsening insecurity in our nation,” warning that the pattern of mass abductions and targeted killings reflects a systemic failure of the state’s constitutional duty to protect citizens.
He further condemned the murder of an APC chieftain, Umar Moriki, in Zamfara State and the wave of abductions in Tsafe LGA, where women, children, and entire households were reportedly taken. According to the opposition leader, similar tragedies unfolding in Plateau, Benue, and parts of Kano show a national security crisis that has “reached intolerable levels.”
Atiku’s remarks underscore growing concerns about Nigeria’s compliance with Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which places security and welfare of citizens as the primary responsibility of government. Analysts argue that repeated breaches highlight urgent gaps in intelligence gathering, community policing, and inter-agency coordination.
Calling for immediate review of the national security architecture, Atiku urged the Federal Government to deploy adequate personnel to vulnerable communities and adopt intelligence-driven strategies that prioritize prevention over reaction.
“Nigeria cannot continue on this path. Our citizens deserve protection, dignity, and peace — nothing less,” he wrote.
The Maga school tragedy once again brings to the forefront the legal, moral, and institutional questions surrounding governance, accountability, and the state’s ability to safeguard children in learning environments.
