President Bola Tinubu has sent Vice-President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi State in response to the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from a boarding school in Maga, and has expressed sympathy to the military for recent casualties.
In a State House press release signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the President vowed that the government would secure the safe return of the girls.
According to the statement, President Tinubu sent the Vice-President on Wednesday “to sympathise with the state government and assure parents and guardians of the kidnapped schoolgirls that the government will ensure their quick release.”
The president also extended his condolences to the armed forces over the death of Brigadier-General Musa Uba and other soldiers, describing their loss as a “tragic” sacrifice.
According to him, “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes.”
The press release said that military authorities had fully briefed him on both the abduction and the fatal military incident.
President Tinubu expressed profound sadness at the school attack in Kebbi, saying: “I am also depressed that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. I have directed the security agencies to act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State.”
The attack, which took place at the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, reportedly involved heavily armed gunmen scaling school fences and engaging in a gunfight with police tactical units.
Witnesses have confirmed that Malam Hassan Makuku, the school’s vice-principal, was shot dead during the invasion, while twenty-five female students were abducted from their dormitories.
Following the assault, a combined force of military personnel, tactical police units and local vigilantes has been deployed. They are currently combing nearby forests and possible escape routes for the abductors.
President Tinubu further urged Nigerians, especially those in regions facing persistent insecurity, to support security operations by sharing information.
“Our security forces cannot succeed in protecting us if the people don’t cooperate and share information that will help them keep our communities safe,” he said.
The Senate has also stepped in, calling for an urgent investigation into the Safe School Fund, a government-funded initiative aimed at protecting vulnerable educational institutions.
Lawmakers have urged President Tinubu to approve the recruitment of an additional 100,000 service personnel to bolster national security.
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