The wife of Hassan Yakubu Makuku, the vice principal shot dead during the attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) Maga in Kebbi State, has given a harrowing account of the moment armed bandits stormed their home and abducted 25 students.
Okay News reports that the attack occurred in the early hours of Monday, plunging the community into fear and grief.
Speaking with journalists, Amina Hassan said the family had been asleep when unusual noises outside their window jolted her awake around 3:30 am.
“I heard movements behind our window,” she said.
At first, she believed it was animals disturbing their property and attempted to alert her husband.
“Before I knew it, there was a bang on our door and it was forcefully opened. So I tapped my husband to tell him that the animals have gotten into the house and they are really destroying our things,” she recounted.
But the situation escalated rapidly.
“As soon as he got up, we realised they were not animals but robbers armed with guns. We started struggling with them. Then one of them pulled out his gun and shot my husband.”
Amina said the attackers dragged her out of the house after killing Makuku.
“I told them to leave me alone and that I would not go with them since they have killed the father of my children and they are asking the children to go in and sleep,” she said.
At that moment, her daughter emerged from the house — immediately drawing the gunmen’s attention.
“Then they left me and went to her and took her with them, leading them to the hostel,” Amina said.
She narrated how the gunmen threatened to kill the girl.
“They told her to lay down so they can shoot her too. So she told them: ‘I should lay down so that you can shoot me.’ They said: ‘Yes’.”
The girl pleaded to be allowed to ease herself. As the gunmen opened a door, they spotted other female students, shifting their attention. In the chaos, Amina’s daughter escaped into the bush.
“By the time she came back, it was already morning,” she said.
The attackers proceeded to abduct 25 students from the hostel, sparking national outrage and intensifying calls for improved security around schools in northern Nigeria.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has ordered the immediate rescue of the kidnapped students.
In a statement issued by Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, the president condemned the attack and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting citizens, especially schoolchildren.
