President Bola Tinubu has denounced the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the deaths of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other troops in Borno State.
In a statement sent on Wednesday on his X handle, the President said,
“I am heartbroken by the kidnapping of our girls in Kebbi and the tragic loss of Brigadier General Musa Uba and the gallant soldiers who died in Borno. My prayers are with their families, as well as the families of the kidnapped schoolgirls.
Tinubu stated that he is “depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty” and prayed for solace for the grieving 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.
He warned that “those who threaten the safety of our citizens will face the full weight of the Nigerian state.”
Various reports revealed that the abductions took place in the early hours of Monday, when gunmen invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School dormitories 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 organisation 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.”
