Just In: Shettima Visits Kebbi; Tinubu Vows Rescue
By Wellington Jopelo
President Bola Tinubu has asked Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State to console the state government and reassure parents of the 25 schoolgirls kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga.
Tinubu also sent condolences to the military for the death of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other soldiers who lost their lives fighting insurgents in Borno State. The abduction occurred on Monday night when bandits attacked the school. The attackers killed the vice principal, wounded the principal, and took 25 girls.
Amina Hassan, whose daughter escaped during the attack, shared her account of the terrifying event. “We were asleep around 3:30 a.m. when I heard noises outside. I thought it was animals, but then they forced the door open and shot my husband. They tried to take me, but my daughter distracted them, and she escaped into the bush,” she said.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Waidi Shaibu, ordered troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to intensify day-and-night operations until all the abducted students are safely rescued. He urged soldiers, vigilantes, and local hunters to work together and use intelligence to track the bandits. “We must find these children. This is not just about our image; it is our duty,” he said.
The Senate has called on President Tinubu to recruit at least 100,000 additional officers to strengthen the military. They also plan to investigate why the Safe School Programme failed to protect the students. Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed that security is a shared responsibility and urged communities to cooperate with security agencies.
International organizations and figures have also reacted. US lawmaker Riley Moore condemned the abduction and called for prayers for the victims. UNICEF urged stronger protection for children and schools, emphasizing the importance of implementing the Safe Schools Declaration in Nigeria.
First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu expressed sadness over the attack, calling it “an assault on the values of safety and learning that schools embody.” She prayed for the quick rescue of the abducted girls and for the late vice principal to rest in peace.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also called for urgent action to rescue the girls. NANS noted that the attack occurred on International Students’ Day, casting a shadow over planned celebrations. They described the incident as a painful reminder of past kidnappings in Chibok, Dapchi, Kagara, and other states, urging the government to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The government continues efforts to rescue the girls, while security agencies work with local communities to prevent further attacks.