The murder of the vice principal and the security guard of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, has left a devastating hole in the hearts of the victims’ wives.

The widow of the security guard, who didn’t give her name during the interview amid tears, said: “My husband and I were sleeping in the room when I heard a strange noise close to our window around 4 am. I tapped my husband in a bid to wake him up from sleep, telling him that goats had entered our house. He woke up and walked out of the room, only to see heavily armed men.

“When we saw them, we began to pray in the Islamic way. While doing that, they shot my husband straight in the chest. He fell and blood began to rush. When I attempted to cover the hole to stop blood from gushing, they cocked their guns and warned me to stop else they would kill me too. That was when our daughter came out of the room. They took her to the hostel and asked her to lie down so they could shoot her.

“She begged them to allow her ease herself, so they left and went after other students. It was then she ran into the bush in the dead of the night till daybreak before she got to safety and returned home. That was how she managed to escape.”

Malama Amina, wife of the slain vice principal, narrated that the assailants were Fulanis because she heard them speaking Fulani, dressed in army camouflage. “They forced the door open and woke him, asked him to say his last prayers. While doing it, they shot him at close range and he died immediately,” she said.

“After killing the vice principal and the night guard, they went straight to Adamu Aliero Hostel in the school and randomly seized the girls, warning that any girl who hid would be killed, sending shivers down their spines.”

Some sources said the abducted schoolgirls were 27 but the Police put the figure at 25.

Governor’s reaction

Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris on Tuesday cut short his trip to visit the scene of the incident after sending his deputy earlier for an on-the-spot assessment.

Idris, who arrived in the village alongside the Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shuaibu, told journalists that the Kebbi State Government would ensure the safe return of the schoolgirls.

While describing the incident as unfortunate, he said he would go to any length through the security agencies to secure their quick release. “Take me by my words, your children will be rescued very soon,” he said.

Police reaction

Kebbi State Police Command, in a statement on Monday, confirmed the abduction of the schoolgirls and the killing of the vice principal.

CSP Nafiu Abubakar, the Police spokesperson, stated that a rescue team comprising the army, police and vigilantes has been raised to rescue the abducted girls.

COAS comment

General Shuaibu assured the parents, people of Kebbi State and the Federal Government that within a short time, the army will rescue the girls unhurt.

“The presidential order on the rescue operations is on course and will soon materialise,” the army chief added. (Vanguard)