NIGERIA: Tinubu Sends VP Shettima To Kebbi Over Kidnapped Schoolgirls, Condoles Military Over Fallen Soldiers

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State on Wednesday to sympathise with the state government and assure parents and guardians of the abducted schoolgirls that the federal government will ensure their swift and safe return.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the President also extended heartfelt condolences to the military over the death of gallant soldiers, including Brigadier General Musa Uba, who lost their lives while fighting insurgents in Borno State.

Describing the abduction of the schoolgirls from their boarding school in Maga, Kebbi State, as a regrettable security breach despite prior intelligence warnings, President Tinubu commended Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris for his efforts to prevent the incident.

He expressed deep sadness over both tragedies and urged communities nationwide, particularly in security-challenged areas, to share vital information and intelligence with the military, police and Department of State Services to enhance safety.

President Tinubu emphasised that security forces cannot operate optimally without active public cooperation, calling on community leaders and citizens to provide useful information in the ongoing fight against terrorism and banditry.

As Commander-in-Chief, the President said he was depressed by the tragic loss of soldiers on active duty and by the disruption of innocent girls’ education, directing security agencies to act swiftly to rescue the abducted students and reunite them with their families.