President Bola Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to travel to Kebbi State on Wednesday to commiserate with the state government and reassure the families and guardians of the kidnapped schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, that the Federal Government is committed to securing their safe return.
In a statement, President Tinubu also extended his condolences to the Nigerian military over the killing of soldiers and Brigadier General Musa Uba, who lost their lives during operations against insurgents in Borno State. He emphasized that the fallen officers paid the ultimate price in service to the nation.
The President, who has been fully briefed on the kidnapping incident, expressed deep concern over the abduction of the students, noting that the tragedy occurred despite intelligence warnings of a possible attack. He commended Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris for efforts made so far to track the perpetrators.
While describing the security lapse as regrettable, President Tinubu urged local communities—especially those in areas facing similar threats—to share critical information and intelligence that could help security agencies, the police, and the DSS keep their environments safe.
He stressed that security forces require the active cooperation of Nigerians to operate effectively.
“As Commander-in-Chief, I am deeply saddened by the loss of our officers and men who died in the line of duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes,” he said.
Condemning the actions of the abductors, the President noted that such attacks on innocent schoolchildren are “heartless” and reaffirmed his directive to security agencies to ensure the swift rescue of the girls and their safe return to Kebbi.
He further emphasized that the fight against insecurity requires stronger collaboration between citizens and security agencies, noting that communities must be willing to provide actionable information for effective operations.
“Our security forces cannot succeed without cooperation from the people,” he said, stressing that community support is essential in overcoming the nation’s current security challenges.
