By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

A United States lawmaker, Riley Moore, who is leading President Donald Trump’s investigation into alleged Christian genocide in Nigeria, has condemned Monday’s abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State, describing the incident as another sign of worsening insecurity across the country.

Moore, in a post on his official X handle, urged the Federal Government to strengthen its response to the escalating wave of violence.
“Please join me in praying for the 25 girls who have been kidnapped and for the repose of the soul of their vice principal who was killed,” he wrote.

While noting that full details of the attack were still emerging, he added: “We know that the attack occurred in a Christian enclave in Northern Nigeria. The Nigerian government must do more to end the rampant violence.”

No fewer than 25 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, were abducted early Monday morning, according to the Kebbi State Police Command.

Spokesperson of the command, CSP Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi, said heavily armed bandits stormed the school around 4:00 a.m., engaging police personnel on duty in a fierce exchange of gunfire before scaling the perimeter fence and whisking the students away.

He confirmed that one staff member, Hassan Makuku, was killed in the attack, while another, Ali Shehu, sustained gunshot injuries to his right hand.

Following the incident, Commissioner of Police Bello Muhammad Sani deployed additional tactical teams, in collaboration with the military and vigilante groups, to the affected area to reinforce ongoing search-and-rescue operations.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Government vowed to ensure the safe return of the abducted students. In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government expressed deep concern and solidarity with the families.

“The Federal Government expresses deep concern and solidarity with the families of the female students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga. We share in their pain and are firmly committed to bringing the girls home safely,” the statement said.

The minister disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed security and intelligence agencies to intensify efforts to locate and rescue the victims.
“Protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, remains a solemn responsibility of the State,” the statement read. “Our security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate, rescue, and safely return the students, and to ensure that the perpetrators face justice.”

The Federal Government reaffirmed that strengthening internal security remains a top priority, adding that ongoing reforms within the military, police, and intelligence services are aimed at preventing attacks and improving rapid-response capabilities.