President Bola Tinubu condemned the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the deaths of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other troops in Borno State.
In a message released on his X account on Wednesday, the President remarked, “I am heartbroken by the abduction of our daughters in Kebbi and the painful loss of Brigadier General Musa Uba and the brave soldiers who fell in Borno. Their families and the families of the kidnapped schoolgirls are in my prayers.”
Tinubu added that he is “depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty” and prayed for comfort for the bereaved families.
“I am also depressed that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. I have directed the security agencies to act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State.
“I am fully apprised of the recent uptick in violent extremism in pockets across the country, and I have directed our security agencies to respond with urgency, clarity, and decisive action.
“Our forces need the full cooperation of every community. Sharing information can save lives and protect our children,” Tinubu added.
The president warned that “those who threaten the safety of our citizens will face the full weight of the Nigerian state.”
Chronicle NG reports that the abductions occurred in the early hours of Monday, when gunmen stormed the dormitory of the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, Kebbi State.
During the raid, the attackers killed the school’s vice principal and a security guard before fleeing with 25 other pupils.
However, one of the girls is said to have fled safely, while hunters and security personnel step up their search for the remaining missing kids.
Separately, Brigadier General Musa Uba, commander of the Nigerian Army’s 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, Borno State, was reportedly ambushed and taken by terrorists from the Islamic State West Africa Province on Friday during a convoy operation near Wajiroko village.
The jihadist organization claimed responsibility on Monday, claiming to have executed the senior officer and other seized soldiers; however, the Nigerian Army initially refuted the allegations.
Tinubu’s statement acknowledged Uba’s death, referring to him as one of the “brave soldiers who fell in Borno.”
