The shock and tension around the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi has intensified, as Senator Garuba Maidoki openly admitted his deep regret over the tragic incident.
The lawmaker said, “I Have Failed My People” while reacting to Monday’s early-morning attack in Maga, Danko Wasagu LGA in Kebbi State.
POLITICS NIGERIA earlier reported that gunmen invaded the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga killing a security guard and taking at least 24 students.
The attack happened at dawn, leaving the entire community terrified and confused.
Speaking during an interview first aired on Arise Television, the Senator representing Kebbi South described the incident as the worst moment of his life.
Maidoki said the people of the area had trusted him with their safety, only for bandits to strike at the heart of the community.
The senate member explained that he rushed home immediately after receiving the news. He met with families of the two security men who were killed, the school authorities, and local residents. He said he assured them that everything possible would be done to rescue the girls.
According to him, the incident felt too close to home. He said many once viewed tragedies like the Chibok abduction as distant stories, but the attack in Maga has shown how deeply insecurity has penetrated rural communities.
When asked whether he felt he had let down the people who voted for him, the Senator responded clearly:
“Yes. Right now, I feel that I have failed my people.”
The Kebbi Senator explained that during his campaign, he encouraged residents to use their voter cards as a tool for security and change. He reminded them to choose leaders who would defend their communities. He won the election under the PDP, defeating an incumbent senator, and he said the people gave him their trust because of their desire for safety.
Maidoki further revealed that, before interventions began last year, more than 200 villages in Zuru Emirate were once occupied by bandits. According to him, local criminals mainly operated for economic gain—stealing livestock and kidnapping residents for ransom.
He said security agencies later cleared many of those locations after several appeals to the Senate and meetings with Service Chiefs. But he admitted the area still experiences incursions from Zamfara State due to the porous boundary and lack of military presence.
The Senator said they already know where the abducted girls were taken, explaining that intelligence reports show the children are still within Kebbi South.
He praised the efforts of troops who have moved into the surrounding forests, even though some soldiers were reportedly shot during the rescue attempts.
He said the situation continues to expose a larger national problem—insufficient personnel on ground. He noted that 20 or 25 soldiers cannot stand against hundreds of armed bandits riding in groups on motorcycles.
On how the attackers fled with the students, he explained that the bandits came on motorcycles and are highly skilled in maneuvering rough terrains. He added that they also moved stolen cattle, using the animals as shields while escaping.
Only one girl managed to escape, and she is said to be fine. The school principal, who sustained injuries during the attack, has also been reported to be stable.
The Senator commended the Federal Government for its response so far. He said the Chief of Army Staff, the Garrison Commander, and the Vice President—who represented the President—have all visited Kebbi to oversee rescue operations.
Maga, however, remains in deep distress. Families of the abducted girls are traumatized. Many parents are still struggling to accept the reality of the attack.
As the Senator put it:
“Parents of the abducted girls are in a state of shock, some of them think they are dreaming, hoping to wake up from the bad dream and see their daughters the following morning while some have been hospitalized.”
He clarified that the Vice Principal was not killed, but the head of security and another guard were shot dead for refusing to lead the attackers to the girls’ hostel. A third guard who obeyed them later escaped when the bandits focused on the students.
He added that several schools in the region remain vulnerable, but the immediate priority is securing the release of the abducted girls.
AT LEAST YOU SEEM TO STILL HAVE A CONSCIENCE UNLIKE SOME OF YOUR PAIRS.