Tinubu Confirms Rescue Of 24 Kidnapped Kebbi School Girls

President Bola Tinubu has confirmed the rescue of 24 Kidnapped school girls in Maga Kebbi last Monday.

Terrorists had struck at the school at dawn on November 17 and abducted the girls, moments after a military detachment left the premises.

According to President Tinubu in a post on his social media X handle, he commended the security forces for their swift response and the parents and community for their strength during this period.

Further, the President ordered for  full security cordon over the forests in Kwara, Kebbi and Niger states  and directed the Air Force  to maintain continuous surveillance over the most remote areas.

According to President Tinubu, “All the schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State have been safely rescued. I must commend our security forces for their swift response, and the parents and community for their strength during this period.

“In response to the recent kidnappings and acts of terrorism, I have ordered a full security cordon over the forests in Kwara State. The Air Force is to maintain continuous surveillance over the most remote areas, synchronising operations with ground units to effectively identify, isolate, disrupt, and neutralise all hostile elements. This directive also extends to the Kebbi and Niger axis.

“Communities are encouraged to report any unusual movements to support ongoing operations as we move decisively to secure every affected area.”

Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga in his X handle post  recalled that the Kebbi incident triggered some other copycat kidnappings in Eruku in Kwara State and Papiri in Niger State.

He recalled that all 38 kidnapped victims in Eruku were freed on Sunday, adding that the same day, the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria said 50 of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger have been found in their parents’ homes.

He said President Tinubu applauded the security agents for all the efforts made to secure freedom for all the victims taken away by the terrorists.

He tasked the security agents to make more 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,” he quoted President Tinubu as having said.