President Bola Tinubu has asked Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State today to sympathise with the state government and assure parents and guardians of the kidnapped schoolgirls that the government would ensure their quick release.

He also sent his condolences to the military over the death of gallant soldiers and Brigadier General Musa Uba, who paid the ultimate price while on active duty fighting insurgents in Borno State.

This came on a day wife of the slain Vice Principal of Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, killed by bandits who attacked the school Monday night, Amina Hassan, narrated how her daughter escaped during the deadly attack that led to the abduction of 25 schoolgirls.

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This is even as the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, Lt General Waidi Shaibu, yesterday directed troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to leave no stone unturned in the ongoing search-and-rescue operation for the abducted students.

The Army chief gave the order as the Senate, while calling for the urgent rescue of the abducted schoolgirls, also asked President Bola Tinubu to urgently order recruitment of at least 100,000 officers and men into the military, to enable the country cope with the exponential increase in population and rising security challenges.

Also yesterday, one of the US lawmakers in the forefront of calling for sanctions against Nigeria over alleged Christian genocide in the country, Riley Moore, equally condemned the abduction of the schoolgirls, even as the United Nations Emergency Fund, UNICEF, while also also condemning the abduction, called for stronger protection of children.

President Tinubu, who the military authorities had fully briefed about the two the abduction and killing of Brigadier General Uba by ISWAP,, expressed sadness over the abduction of the schoolgirls, despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits. He commended Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris for the efforts made to avert the kidnapping.

While decrying the security breach that led to the regrettable abduction of girls from the boarding school in Maga, Kebbi State, Tinubu urged communities across the country, especially in areas facing security challenges, to share information and intelligence that would help the military, the police and the DSS make the communities safe.

Noting that security forces could not perform optimally without the support of Nigerians and local communities, the President said: “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.

“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.

“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,” the President said.

Recounting how the abduction occurred, Amina said the attackers broke into their home around 3:30 a.m. while the family slept.

She recounted: “What happened is that we were asleep around 3.30 a.m. when I heard movements behind our window. So I tried to wake my husband up to tell him that the animals are destroying our things outside. Before I knew it, there was a bang on our door and it was forcibly opened.

“So, I tapped my husband to tell him that the animals have got into the house and they are really destroying our things. As soon as he got up, we realised they were not animals but robbers armed with guns.

“We started struggling with them. Then one of them pulled out his gun and shot my husband. Then they dragged me by my hand outside the house.

“I told them to leave me alone, that I would not go with them since they have killed the father of my children and they are asking the children to go in and sleep.

“I was still arguing with them when my daughter came out. Then they left me and went to her and took her to lead them to the hostel.

“Then they told her to lay down, so they can shoot her too. So she told them, ‘I should lay down so that you can shoot me.’ They said ‘yes.’

“So she asked that they allow her to go and ease herself. Then they opened the door and saw other girls, and their attention was shifted from my girl.’’
Mrs Hassan, who noted that this distraction helped her daughter escape, said further: “That was how she was able to escape into the bush. By the time she came back, it was already morning.’’