President Bola Tinubu has ordered security agencies to act quickly to ensure the safe rescue of 25 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, following an attack by bandits on Monday night.
President Tinubu has dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi State today, Wednesday, to sympathize with the state government and to the affected families.
The attack occurred around 3:30 a.m. when armed bandits broke into the school premises, to abduct students. The attack resulted in the tragic killing of the school’s Vice Principal, Mr. Hassan Yakubu Makuku. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) has concurrently ordered troops to launch a day and night search-and-rescue operations.
The wife of the deceased recounted struggling with the gunmen before her daughter was taken to lead the attackers to the hostel, which resulted in her subsequent escape.
President Tinubu expressed deep sadness over the incident, which he mentioned happened despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike. He used the opportunity to urge communities to cooperate with the security agencies;
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
The attack drew condemnation from the Senate, which called for the urgent recruitment of at least 100,000 more military personnel.
COAS Lt. General Waidi Shaibu has traveled to the state and ordered troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to engage in ruthless determination to succeed, stressing that the rescue of the children is a national priority. The Army Chief has also engaged local vigilantes, in recognition of their indispensable knowledge of the terrain, in order to launch intelligence-based missions.
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