Why Shettima Is Heading FG Delegation to Kebbi Over Abducted Schoolgirls — Tinubu Explains

• Vice President Kashim Shettima will today lead a high-powered delegation to Kebbi State as the Federal Government moves to reassure families of abducted schoolgirls and reaffirm its stance on nationwide school safety, following the latest attack in Danko-Wasagu.

Vice President Kashim Shettima will today lead a Federal Government delegation to Kebbi State to deliver a message of solidarity and reassurance to the families of the abducted pupils.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reiterated his directive to security agencies to move swiftly and rescue the schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area.

The President assured Nigerians that every child would be brought home safely.

In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu said he had received full briefings from military authorities on both the school abduction and the separate killing of soldiers in Borno State.

“As Commander-in-Chief, I am depressed by the tragic death of our officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier-General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes,” he said.

Tinubu praised Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris for efforts made to avert the attack despite earlier intelligence about suspicious bandit movements in the area.

Condemning the incident as a cruel disruption of the education of innocent girls, the President urged communities in vulnerable areas to strengthen intelligence-sharing with security agencies, noting that “our forces cannot succeed without timely information.”

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing schools nationwide.

Meanwhile, condemnation poured in over the killing of the school’s vice principal and the abduction of 25 pupils. Lawmakers, governors, the First Lady, UNICEF and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) all called for urgent action to halt the surge in school attacks and assaults on security personnel.

During an operational visit to Kebbi, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu ordered troops of Operation Fasin Yamma to intensify search-and-rescue efforts.

“We must find these children. Act decisively on all intelligence. Success is not optional,” he told field commanders.

He met with local vigilantes and hunters, urging deeper collaboration based on their terrain knowledge. The COAS also paid condolence visits to the Danko monarch and the school principal, assuring them of the military’s unwavering commitment to rescuing the girls unharmed.

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu described the attack as a painful assault on national values of safety, learning and human dignity.

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“This heartbreaking incident is not only an attack on innocent girls and dedicated educators, but an attack on the values schools embody,” she said.

The Senate, after a motion by former Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi, observed a minute of silence for the slain vice principal and Brig-Gen Uba. Lawmakers urged security agencies to urgently rescue the abducted students and set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the Safe Schools Initiative’s implementation.

They also called on the Federal Government to recruit an additional 100,000 security personnel to strengthen the fight against terrorism.

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda described the abduction as “the worst form of criminality,” urging security agencies to intensify efforts.

Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu also condemned the killings and demanded swift rescue operations.

UNICEF stressed that no child should risk death or abduction in pursuit of education, insisting that schools and students must be protected under international law.

The NBA also condemned the Kebbi abduction and the killing of Brig-Gen Uba, warning that Nigeria faces a growing culture of brazen violence. NBA President Afam Osigwe (SAN) called for a time-bound rescue mission, a full probe into security lapses, prosecution of terrorism financiers, and full implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative.

“This is about leadership, justice and the soul of the nation. Delay is danger. The time to act is now,” he said.