Gunmen Ambush Military, Police in Kebbi, Kill Several

  Several military and police officers, along with civilians, were killed in a deadly ambush by gunmen in the Giro Masa community, Shanga Local Government Area of Kebbi State, on Tuesday night. The exact number of casualties among security personnel remains unclear, though two community members were confirmed dead, according to local sources, Channels reports. Eyewitnesses said the attackers had been operating within the community and nearby areas before being tracked to a construction company yard. Acting on a tip from residents, soldiers were dispatched to the site but were ambushed en route. During the attack, the assailants reportedly set two military gun trucks on fire. A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described the incident as chaotic and deadly. “The gunmen came into our village and were heading towards the construction company yard. We alerted security personnel, but they were ambushed,” the source said. Another local noted the confusion and fear among residents. “It was terrifying. People were running in all directions as the gunmen fired at the soldiers and set the trucks ablaze,” the resident added. As of press time, there had been no official statement from security authorities regarding the incident. As of press time, no official statement had been released by security authorities regarding the incident. Shanga Local Government Area, like other parts of Kebbi State, has in recent years witnessed sporadic attacks by armed groups, targeting both security forces and civilians. Such incidents often involve ambushes along highways and in rural communities, with assailants typically fleeing to forested or hard-to-reach areas. Security agencies have frequently conducted joint operations to curb these attacks, but challenges in terrain, intelligence, and mobility have hampered complete containment.  

US Condemns Niger, Kebbi School Abductions, Demands Justice

  The United States has condemned the abduction of students and teachers in Niger State, as well as the earlier kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi State. In a statement issued on Monday via its X handle, the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs described the attacks as acts that must not go unpunished and urged the Federal Government to bring the perpetrators to justice. It further called on the government to strengthen security measures and guarantee the safety of vulnerable communities, including Christian populations. It wrote, “The United States condemns the mass abduction of reportedly over 300 students and teachers from St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State, Nigeria, and the kidnapping, just days before, of 25 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. “Those responsible for these crimes must be swiftly captured and held accountable. The Nigerian government must act decisively and do more to protect Christians and ensure Nigerians can live, learn, and practice their religion freely without fear or terror.” PUNCH Online reported that gunmen on November 17 stormed Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, killing the vice principal, Hassan Makuku, and abducting at least 24 female students. Four days later, on November 21, gunmen raided St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State, abducting 303 students and 12 teachers. Initial estimates varied, but the Christian Association of Nigeria later confirmed the figures through a census of missing individuals. Fifty students managed to escape and reunite with their families. The abductions mark a surge in school-targeted violence in Nigeria and echo the 2014 Chibok kidnapping of 276 girls by Boko Haram. In response, the Federal Government initiated rescue operations in various states. President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State to coordinate security operations for the rescue of the abducted schoolgirls. Governments in Niger, Katsina, Plateau, and Bauchi states have also ordered the closure of numerous schools to prevent further incidents.