A former Mayor of Blanco, Texas, United States, Mike Arnold, has joined the growing number of voices calling for urgent government action following the attack on Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. In the attack, gunmen killed the school’s Vice Principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and abducted 25 female students. The incident, which occurred on Sunday night in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, has once again drawn national and international attention to the insecurity affecting schools in northern Nigeria.
Arnold, who posted his reaction on his X handle on Tuesday, expressed frustration that nearly 11 years after the Chibok schoolgirls were kidnapped in Borno State, similar tragedies were still happening. In his message, he wrote: “11 years after Chibok, 25 more girls stolen from school in Kebbi. #BringBackOurGirls2025 demands: Immediate rescue operations, armed school security, and zero tolerance for ransoms. Who’s with me?”
His post has sparked widespread discussions online, with Nigerians sharing the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls2025 and asking the government to speed up rescue efforts. Many users also expressed concern that armed groups continue to target schools, especially in rural areas where security presence is weak.
According to local reports, the gunmen stormed the school late on Sunday, shooting into the air and forcing students and staff to flee. In the confusion, the Vice Principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, was killed, while several pupils and staff members were injured. The attackers then seized 25 female students and fled into nearby forests.
Residents said the attack lasted several minutes, during which the gunmen operated freely because there was no immediate security response. Families in the community have been left in shock, with parents crying and waiting for updates from authorities.
One resident said, “We heard gunshots and knew something was wrong. People were running everywhere. We later found out that many girls had been taken.”
The attack has forced the community into mourning and fear. Many parents are afraid to allow their children back in school, while others worry that the abducted girls could be moved far away if the government does not act quickly.
Following the incident, federal authorities announced the deployment of security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, to Kebbi State. Their mission is to track the attackers and rescue the abducted students. Search operations are focused on forest areas within Kebbi and neighbouring states, as security experts believe the kidnappers may try to move the girls between camps.
The Kebbi State Government has also expressed sadness over the attack and promised to work with security agencies to ensure the safe return of the students. However, many Nigerians fear that the rescue effort must be swift to avoid a repeat of past situations where abducted schoolchildren remained in captivity for long periods.
This latest attack has revived discussions about the safety of schools in northern Nigeria. Over the past decade, armed groups have repeatedly targeted educational institutions, abducting students and demanding ransom. The most notable incident was the April 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok in Borno State, which drew global outrage and led to the popular #BringBackOurGirls movement.
Since then, similar attacks have occurred in states such as Zamfara, Kaduna, Niger, and Katsina. Many of these attacks take place in rural communities with limited security presence, making schools easy targets.
Mike Arnold’s online post has breathed new life into public advocacy for the protection of schoolchildren. His use of the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls2025 has spread rapidly across social media platforms, with Nigerian activists, students, parents, and public figures joining the conversation.
Many Nigerians say the hashtag reflects the painful reality that the Chibok situation is still fresh in the nation’s memory. Dozens of Chibok girls remain missing, even after 11 years. This has raised serious concerns about the government’s ability to protect vulnerable students.
The new hashtag has been used to demand immediate rescue operations, improved security in schools, and clear government action plans to prevent future attacks. It has also called on the international community to support Nigeria in rescuing kidnapped students and ending school insecurity.
Although Arnold is a former mayor of a small U.S. city, his involvement has drawn international attention to the Kebbi attack. Nigerian social media users say this shows that the issue of school abductions is not only a national concern but a global one. Many commenters thanked him for speaking up, while urging world leaders and international organisations to assist Nigeria in rescuing the girls.
Some human rights groups have also condemned the attack, describing it as part of a growing pattern of violence against children in conflict-prone regions.
As security agencies continue their search, families of the abducted girls are waiting anxiously for news. Some parents have camped at the school, while others visit local security posts daily in hope of receiving updates. For them, every hour feels heavy.
The Kebbi State attack has once again reminded Nigerians of the vulnerability of schoolchildren in many parts of the country. It has also shown that until stronger steps are taken to protect schools, similar tragedies may continue.
