Abuja – President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday welcomed the release of the 24 schoolgirls abducted by terrorists from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, on November 17. The girls were taken at dawn, moments after a military detachment left the school premises. In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said he was “relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for.” He added that the government will “offer all the assistance needed” to secure their safe return.
The Kebbi abduction sparked copycat kidnappings in Eruku, Kwara State, where all 38 victims were freed on Sunday, and in Papiri, Niger State, where the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria reported that 50 missing students from a Catholic school had been found at their parents’ homes.
President Tinubu praised the security agents for their efforts in securing the release of the victims and urged them to redouble their operations. “Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping,” he said, adding that his administration would provide any necessary support.
The President’s remarks come as mass kidnappings for ransom continue to plague northern Nigeria, with armed gangs frequently targeting schools and rural communities. He reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting students and vulnerable communities, promising continued support for security operations across the affected regions.
