Tinubu orders swift rescue of abducted Kebbi schoolgirls

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national information, says President Bola Tinubu has ordered the swift rescue of the female students abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi.

Gunmen attacked the school on Monday morning and kidnapped 25 female students during the raid.

Nafi’u Kotarkoshi, police spokesperson in Kebbi, said Hassan Makuku, the school’s vice principal, lost his life during the attack, while Ali Shehu, a security guard, sustained gunshot injuries to his right hand.

Reacting to the development in a statement, Idris said Tinubu has condemned the attack and reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to protecting all Nigerians, especially schoolchildren.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has reiterated that protecting every Nigerian, especially schoolchildren, remains a solemn responsibility of the State. The government condemns the reprehensible attack on innocent students and the killing of school officials who were carrying out their noble duty,” he said.

“Our security and intelligence agencies have been issued clear directives to locate, rescue, and safely return the students, and to ensure that the perpetrators face justice. The Federal Government will not relent until this objective is achieved.

“We assure Nigerians that strengthening internal security remains a top priority. The Federal Government is recalibrating the nation’s military, policing, and intelligence capabilities to more effectively prevent these attacks and respond with greater speed and precision whenever threats arise.

“Nigeria is also reinforcing cooperation with regional partners through ECOWAS, the African Union, and the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) to secure our borders and disrupt terrorist and criminal networks. We urge the public to remain calm and confident as security forces work around the clock to resolve this matter.”