President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has voiced his deep distress following the abduction of 25 students from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. The abduction occurred on Monday when bandits attacked the school, resulting in the death of the school’s Vice-Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku.
Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State on Wednesday to sympathize with the state government and reassure the families of the kidnapped girls that the government is committed to their quick release.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Tinubu lamented that the “heartless terrorists” have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. He noted that the abduction occurred despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits. He commended Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris for his efforts to avert the kidnapping.
Tinubu urged communities, especially those in security-challenged areas, to share information with security agencies to enhance community safety. He also conveyed his condolences to the military for the loss of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other soldiers who died fighting insurgents in Borno State.
Reports indicate that the attackers, described as a “gang of armed bandits,” stormed the school around 4 a.m., firing shots and taking the girls from their sleeping quarters. One student reportedly escaped from the abductors. Security forces have launched a search-and-rescue operation to find the missing students.
