By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
FRESH DETAILS have emerged from Kebbi State following the confirmation of the identities of 25 schoolgirls abducted by gunmen during the attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.
Chairman of the council, Hussaini Aliyu, released the full list of kidnapped students, structured according to class categories, after the assault that left the vice-principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, dead and a security guard injured.
The disclosure offered clarity on the scale of the incident, which occurred on Monday morning when armed bandits stormed the school during school hours.
The attack also triggered a wide security response involving police units, military personnel, and local vigilante groups.
Senior officials said the combined team is combing suspected escape corridors and forest paths in an extensive search-and-rescue operation.
The Commissioner of Police in Kebbi, Bello Sani, confirmed that additional tactical units have been deployed to reinforce the effort. He stated that operatives are conducting coordinated sweeps of terrain known for providing cover to criminal groups.
He said the police assessment indicated that immediate saturation of the area is essential to track the movement of the attackers and secure the safe return of the abducted students.
Meanwhile, military involvement has also intensified with the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Waidi Shaibu, directing troops under Operation FANSAN YANMA to push deeper into suspected hideouts and maintain constant pressure on the perpetrators.
He also ordered sustained day-and-night operations, stressing that every resource must be committed to ensuring that the kidnapped students are found and rescued.
According to the directive, troops are to maintain momentum without interruption until the operation achieves a definitive result.
Federal authorities are closely monitoring developments as President Bola Tinubu has requested updates from Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who travelled to Kebbi on his behalf, and from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The President’s directive reveals the seriousness with which the administration is treating the situation as agencies consolidate intelligence and field operations, a statement said.
The names of the abducted students released by the Danko/Wasagu LGA chairman provide a full breakdown of those taken from the school.
The list, structured by class groups, includes the following:
Senior Secondary School 2A
Fatima Sani Zimri
Hafsat Ibrahim
Nana Firdausi Jibril
Masauda Yakubu Romo
Senior Secondary School 2B
5. Hauwa Saleh
6. Hauwa’u Umar Imam
Senior Secondary School 3A & 3B
7. Salima Garba Umar
8. Salima Sani Zimri
9. Amina G. Umar
10. Rashida Muhammad Dingu
11. Saliha Umar
12. Aisha Usman
13. Jamila Iliyasu
14. Maryam Illiyasu
15. Najaatu Abdullahi
16. Zainab Kolo
Junior Secondary School 3A
17. Surraya Tukur
18. Hafsat Umar Yalmo
19. Maryam Usman
20. Amina Illiyasu
21. Ikilima Suleman
Junior Secondary School
22. Khadija Nazifi
23. Hauwa’u Iliyasu
24. Hauwa’u Lawali
25. Ummu Kulsum Abdulkarim
Moreover, local authorities said releasing the names ensures accuracy in tracking ongoing efforts and provides verified information to families and the public.
The council chairman noted that community stakeholders are cooperating with security agencies, while the school continues to account for students and staff affected by the attack.
Security sources part of the operation confirmed that tracking units are mapping the bandits’ possible exit routes, an approach that has been used in previous rescue missions across the region.
They described the terrain around Danko/Wasagu as expansive, with thick forest patches that complicate movement and visibility, making coordinated personnel deployment essential.
The police commissioner also said officers are in steady communication with the military and community volunteers monitoring various points along the corridors surrounding Maga.
He explained that search teams are following patterns associated with previous abductions, focusing on narrow forest belts frequently used by armed groups to evade detection.
The commissioner emphasised that the objective remains the safe recovery of all abducted students and the arrest of those responsible.
Senior military officers operating under Operation FANSAN YANMA also said troops are maintaining a layered approach involving foot patrols, mobile units, and night-time surveillance.
According to operational briefings, the directive from the COAS reinforces the tempo of the mission, requiring troops to sustain pressure without pause, stating that the order reflects the army’s present posture across the northwest, where coordinated operations continue to target bandit movements.
Field reports further indicated that vigilante groups are supporting the effort by guiding security forces through local pathways and monitoring border tracks while military officials noted that the cooperation has improved movement across terrains where navigation and familiarity are critical.
The army’s operational command explained that the involvement of local groups does not replace formal military operations but contributes to building a clearer picture of potential escape routes.
In the meantime, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, during his visit to Kebbi on behalf of President Tinubu, met with community leaders, security commanders, and state officials. According to briefings shared with the presidency, the discussions centred on reinforcing coordination and ensuring that the operation maintains clarity of purpose.
The vice-president also received situational updates on the welfare of families and the broader security conditions around the affected communities.
State officials described the attack to the VP as a significant disruption, with the school-working to stabilise operations.
Also, education authorities in the area are compiling updated attendance records and liaising with security agencies to provide verified data. The release of the list by the LGA chairman forms part of this verification process as search for the abducted girls continue.
