President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the release of the 24 schoolgirls abducted by terrorists from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) Maga in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State last Monday.
Recall that terrorists struck the school at dawn on November 17, abducting the girls moments after a military detachment had left the premises.
The incident sparked anger and anguish, as stakeholders questioned the rationale behind the withdrawal of the military personnel just before the children were taken hostage.
Details of the girls’ rescue remain scanty as of the time of filing this report.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said in a statement that the Kebbi incident had triggered other copycat kidnappings in Eruku in Kwara State and Papiri in Niger State.
Read also: Tinubu confirm rescue of 38 kidnapped worshipers
While all 38 worshippers at the Eruku Church in Kwara State have been rescued, security agencies are still working around the clock to rescue over 250 schoolchildren and their teachers who remain in the custody of bandits in Niger State.
Earlier on Tuesday, the President directed a comprehensive coverage of the forests around Niger and Kwara States in a bid to secure the release of the schoolchildren and their teachers.
Onanuga noted that the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had earlier said that 50 of the missing students from the Catholic School in Niger had been found and reunited with their parents.
President Tinubu applauded the security agents for their efforts in securing the freedom of all victims taken by the terrorists and said it was time to intensify efforts to ensure the total release of the remaining kidnapped children and others still in the terrorists’ custody.
Following the incident, President Tinubu canceled his trips to South Africa and Angola for the just-concluded G20 Summit and the AU-EU Africa Summit.
Read also: FG confirms US partnership to combat terrorism, banditry
The events were, however, attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, while President Tinubu stayed back to coordinate the rescue exercise as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Last Friday, the President ordered Bello Matawalle, the Minister of State for Defence, to relocate to Kebbi to coordinate the rescue operation.
Reacting to the rescue of the Kebbi schoolgirls, the President urged security agents to intensify efforts to rescue the remaining students still being held captive.
“I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for.
“Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping.
“My government will offer all the assistance needed to achieve this,” President Tinubu said.
