Tinubu Relieved as Kebbi Schoolgirls Freed
By Wolimoh Abdulmateen
Security agencies have confirmed the release of the 24 students kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. Their freedom followed a quiet, non-forceful operation coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Department of State Services.
President Bola Tinubu welcomed the news and directed round-the-clock aerial surveillance across forests in Kebbi, Kwara, and Niger states to curb rising attacks and abductions. He praised the security agencies and instructed them to rescue other victims still in captivity.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has called for a full military probe into the withdrawal of soldiers from the school before the incident, describing it as an act of sabotage. The military said an investigation is underway.
In Kwara State, another kidnapping occurred in Isapa community, where gunmen abducted several residents, including a pregnant woman and nursing mothers. Police confirmed the incident and launched a large search-and-rescue mission with the help of local vigilantes. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has set up a high-level security committee to develop a fresh security plan for the state.
Across the North, insecurity continues to escalate. The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, during a visit to Niger State, admitted that criminals had become bolder and said coordinated action was urgently needed. State lawmakers complained that the region was overwhelmed by bandit attacks and demanded swift rescue of hundreds of kidnapped students and teachers.
At the national level, House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas said Nigeria would not accept foreign assessments that fail to capture the full complexity of its security challenges, stressing that victims are from both Christian and Muslim communities.
Former Kaduna senator Shehu Sani urged northern leaders to tackle the root causes of insecurity, including poverty, illiteracy, and underdevelopment, instead of politicising the crisis ahead of 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, the World Food Programme warned that growing insecurity was worsening hunger in northern Nigeria, with nearly 35 million people projected to face severe food shortages during the next lean season.
Security agencies also highlighted the need for closer cooperation. Police authorities at the Abuja airport said joint efforts with the Air Force and Immigration Service were key to protecting national entry points.
Kidnappings were also reported in Kano State, where gunmen took several women and girls from villages in Tsanyawa Local Government Area. Police promised to strengthen border patrols and boost security in vulnerable communities.
Civil society groups condemned the abductions in Kebbi and Niger, demanding better protection for schoolchildren. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria also urged the government to end the rising killings and kidnappings, warning that slow responses by security agencies fuel public distrust and worsen tensions in affected communities.