In the wake of the devastating kidnapping of schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior School in Maga, Kebbi State, President Bola Tinubu has issued a direct appeal to Nigerian communities, emphasizing that the nation’s security forces “cannot perform optimally without the support of Nigerians and local communities.”
The call for vital public cooperation came as the President activated a high-level governmental response to the crisis.
President Tinubu has asked Vice President Kashim Shettima to immediately visit Kebbi State on Wednesday. The Vice President’s mission is to personally sympathize with the state government and, crucially, to assure the anguished parents and guardians of the abducted students that the federal government is prioritizing their daughters’ safe and swift return.
The President’s statement also extended beyond the immediate tragedy in Kebbi to address a separate, grievous loss for the nation’s military.
President Tinubu sent his profound condolences to the Armed Forces following the death of several soldiers, including Brigadier General Musa Uba, who were killed while combating insurgents in Borno State.
“As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and our other fallen heroes,” the President stated, mourning those who “paid the ultimate price.”
Regarding the school abduction, President Tinubu expressed his profound sadness, particularly because the attack occurred “despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits.”
He specifically commended Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris of Kebbi State for the efforts already undertaken to avert such a disaster. However, he decried the “security breach” that ultimately led to the “regrettable abduction of girls from the boarding school.”
While outlining the government’s reactive measures, the President’s core message was a proactive plea for national unity in the face of security challenges. He urged communities across the country, “especially in areas facing security challenges, to share information and intelligence that will help the military, the police and the DSS to make the communities safe.”
This appeal for a symbiotic relationship between citizens and security operatives forms a central part of the administration’s strategy.
“Our security forces cannot succeed in protecting us if the people don’t cooperate and share information that will help them keep our communities safe,” President Tinubu asserted.
He directly addressed community leaders and compatriots, stating, “Your cooperation is crucial in our fight against these security challenges.”
The President also gave a firm directive to the country’s security apparatus, confirming that he has been fully briefed on both incidents and has ordered a decisive response. “I have directed the security agencies to act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State,” he declared, offering a direct assurance of the government’s resolve.
The twin tragedies of the Kebbi kidnapping and the loss of soldiers in Borno have underscored the persistent security threats facing the nation.
In his response, President Tinubu has sought to project decisive action through the deployment of his Vice President, while simultaneously framing the path to long-term security as a shared national responsibility, dependent on the critical flow of intelligence from local communities to the security agencies tasked with protecting them.
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