President Bola Tinubu has dispatched Vice President Kashim Shettima to Kebbi State to meet with grieving families of the schoolgirls abducted from a boarding school in Maga.

He also promised that the government is working to ensure their safe and swift return.

This is just as he said the abducation took despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President also extended condolences to the military over the deaths of several soldiers and Brigadier General Musa Uba, who were killed in action while battling insurgents in Borno State.

Tinubu said he had been fully briefed by military authorities on both incidents and expressed deep sorrow over the attack on the school.

He noted that the abduction occurred “despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits,” while commending Kebbi State Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris “for the efforts made to avert the kidnapping.”

Describing the attack as a painful setback, the President urged communities—particularly those in security-vulnerable areas—to work more closely with security operatives.

While lamenting the dual tragedies, Tinubu declared, “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 other fallen heroes.”

He said he was equally troubled by the assault on schoolchildren, stating, “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.”

The President emphasized that citizen cooperation remains central to weakening criminal networks and preventing further attacks.

“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.

“I urge community leaders and our compatriots across the country, especially those in the theatres of operations, to share useful information. Your cooperation is crucial in our fight against these security challenges,” he said.

Vice President Shettima is expected in Kebbi on Wednesday to meet with state officials, reassure affected parents, and convey the President’s message of solidarity and commitment, the statement noted.

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The Senate on Tuesday intensified pressure on the Federal Government to overhaul Nigeria’s security architecture, urging President Bola Tinubu to immediately approve the recruitment of 100,000 fresh military personnel to confront insurgency, banditry and the rising wave of school abductions across the country.

Lawmakers also demanded a full investigation into the Safe School Programme, questioning how funds allocated to the initiative were spent despite repeated attacks on educational institutions.

Their concerns were provoked by the deadly raid on Government Girls School, Maga, in Kebbi State, where gunmen killed the vice principal and reportedly abducted 25 students.

The debate followed additional prayers raised by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) during plenary, which triggered a heated session on Nigeria’s worsening security situation.

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, presided over the sitting and later moved the chamber into a closed-door meeting to discuss classified details.

Oshiomhole, while leading the call for massive recruitment and a security audit, warned that the scale of insecurity required a strategic expansion of the armed forces.

“I urged the President and the armed forces to recruit an additional 100,000 military personnel so we can have enough members and women in our troops. It is also another way to create employment for our youthful population.”

He faulted the alleged commercialisation of national security and demanded answers about the Safe School funds.

“People have turned our security to business. We should not monetise the death of our people by those living. What happened to the money earmarked for the Safe School programme?”

Oshiomhole pressed further for a Senate-led probe and enhanced technological capacity for security agencies.

“Again, I urge the FG and relevant Senate Committees to probe the funds appropriated for the Safe School programme.

“I call on the military to deploy the use of technology and tracking devices to be able to track these criminals,” he urged.

His additional prayer was unanimously seconded and adopted by lawmakers across party lines.

Reacting, Senate President Godswill Akpabio endorsed the call for 100,000 new troops and supported the probe of the Safe School programme.

“We urge the Federal Government and Senate Committee to probe the spending. Unfortunately, these criminals are going after soft targets.”

Akpabio also cautioned against politicising insecurity.

He also offered condolences to the victims of the Maga school attack.

“But crime is crime. It doesn’t matter under which administration it takes place. Even the almighty America has crime daily.”

“All lives matter. May the souls of our fellow Nigerians and the vice principal who died in the course of protecting the students rest in peace.”

The debate in the Senate also touched on the country’s current defence capabilities.

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The call followed Monday’s assault on a Government Girls School in the Maga community of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, where gunmen killed the vice-principal and abducted the students, prompting renewed concern over persistent attacks on schools in the Northwest.

In a statement issued by the Communication Specialist for UNICEF Nigeria, Sussan Akila, the agency condemned the incident.

Akila said: “UNICEF strongly condemns the reported attack on a Government Girls School in the Maga community of Kebbi State, which resulted in the death of the school’s Vice-Principal and the abduction of 25 students.

“This tragic incident is yet another stark reminder of the urgent need to protect children, schools, and the personnel they rely upon to learn safely.”

Expressing sympathy, Akila noted, “We stand with the affected community at this difficult time; our heartfelt condolences go to those who have lost their loved ones, and we wish a full recovery for those injured.”

On the abduction, she said, “UNICEF further urges the swift release of the abducted children.”

Akila also stressed the obligation to safeguard learning spaces.

“Students, education facilities, and their personnel should be protected under international law from any form of attack, and those responsible must be held to account in accordance with national and international standards,” she said.

Referencing Nigeria’s 2015 commitment, she stated, “In 2015, the Nigerian government endorsed the Safe Schools Declaration, which outlines concrete steps to safeguard the civilian nature of schools and universities to ensure safe access of students to education during conflict.”

She urged full implementation.

Akila said UNICEF was working with authorities and communities to improve child safety and promote secure learning environments.

“These systems and environments must be reinforced to prevent future tragedies.

“No child should be put at risk while pursuing an education,” the statement added.

The Safe Schools Declaration is an inter-governmental political commitment to protect students, teachers, schools, and universities from the worst effects of armed conflict.

It has been endorsed by 121 States, PUNCH Online confirms from the SSD website on Tuesday, with Nigeria endorsing it in May 2015.

In April 2021, the House of Representatives resolved to investigate the alleged abandonment of Federal Government’s Safe School Initiative, especially the N500m allocated to the rehabilitation of the Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State, where Boko Haram abducted over 200 schoolgirls.

Months later in October, President of the Senate then, Ahmad Lawan, said that the Safe School Initiative of the Federal Government was designed to fail.

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