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 …FG Vows To Rescue Schoolgirls, Ensure Abductors Face Justice

…Pledges Support For Families Of Girls, Slain General, Vice Principal

…Tinubu Shelves Foreign Trip Over Bandits Attacks In Kebbi, Kwara

…Kebbi Govt Releases Names Of 25 Abducted Schoolgirls

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was in Kebbi State on behalf of the Fed­eral Government, has assured families of the abducted schoolgirls from Govern­ment Girls Comprehensive Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of the state, as well as that of the late Brigadier-General Musa Uba and the late vice principal of the school that President Bola Tinubu is deeply troubled by the tragic incidents.

He vowed that the government will de­ploy all instruments of the state to rescue the schoolchildren and ensure their abductors, and killers of the gallant military general and the vice principal are made to face the full weight of justice.

 The vice president, who spoke on Wednesday while in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, on the directive of President Tinu­bu, described the abduction of the schoolgirls from the boarding school in Maga as an assault on the collective conscience of all Nigerians.

The president had on Tuesday evening asked the VP to visit the state to sympathise with the state government and assure parents and guardians of the kidnapped schoolgirls that the government will ensure their quick release.

Extending President Tinu­bu’s sympathy to families of the abducted schoolgirls and the state government, Senator Shettima said, “Kebbi’s pain is Nigeria’s pain. When one child is taken, ev­ery home in this nation grieves. When girls in the safety of their classroom are seized by crimi­nals, our collective conscience is assaulted.

“Mr. President is deeply trou­bled by this tragedy. He shares your anguish, and he has sent me to assure you that this is not a moment for politics. This grief transcends party lines, geography, and identity. This is a time for uni­ty, for compassion, and for firm resolve in the face of evil. Our priority is singular and unflinch­ing: our daughters must return home safely.”

On behalf of the president, VP Shettima assured them that their tears, fears, and cries are a stain on Nigeria’s collective conscience, and that the nation “shall not turn away from this responsibility.

“This government will not relent. We will use every instru­ment of the state to bring these girls home and to ensure that the perpetrators of this wickedness face the full weight of justice. Kebbi, you are not alone. Nigeria stands with you. And we shall not rest until your daughters return to your warm embrace,” he vowed.

The vice president promised that the Federal Government will support families of the late General Uba, the late vice prin­cipal and others who were killed by the terror groups, while doing everything possible to rescue the abducted schoolgirls.

“We also honour the ultimate sacrifice made by some of our brave officers. To the family of the late Brigadier-General Musa Uba, we say: his sacrifice will never be forgotten. When a soldier gives his life in defence of this nation, a part of our collective soul is touched. We will honour him, his family, and all who pay the supreme price in service to Nigeria,” he stated.

Senator Shettima applauded the governor of Kebbi State, Mu­hammed Nasir Idris, community leaders, traditional rulers, local vigilante groups, civil society partners, and all stakeholders for rallying together in the moment of distress.

“Your cooperation, your vig­ilance, and your unity are indis­pensable to the search for our girls and to the safety of our communi­ties,” he said.

He also commended the gallant officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and all para­military and intelligence agencies for their gallantry in the face of security challenges confronting the nation.

“Your courage, your tireless­ness, and your sacrifices—often unseen and unsung—remain the backbone of our nation’s security. You stand on the frontlines so that the rest of us may sleep with hope. The nation appreciates you,” he told them.

On his part, the governor of Kebbi State, Muhammed Nasir Idris, thanked President Tinubu for the show of support, concern and immense leadership.

He said that since the inci­dent happened, the president had been in touch with the state government, noting that with the commitment and efforts of the government, he was optimistic that the kidnapped schoolgirls would soon be rescued.

Governor Idris particularly thanked Vice President Shettima for the show of concern, even as he affirmed the state’s commit­ment and loyalty to the Tinubu administration, vowing contin­ued partnership and cooperation with the Federal Government in ensuring the release of the girls.

“We, in Kebbi, are most touched by the show of concern and deepened actions being tak­ing to rescue our girls. I am opti­mistic that they will be rescued. It is a painful experience but we also will ensure that we put all in place to avert any of such future occurrence.

“We thank Mr. President here, ably represented by our very own vice president. We thank you for the concern, and the communica­tions and actions behind the scene thus far. We deeply appreciate, sir,” the governor stated.

Among the government dele­gation were the National Chair­man of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nantawe Yitwada; Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Abu­bakar Tafida; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Min­ister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Iman Suleiman Ibrahim; Minis­ter of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Bernard Fori, and Minister of State, Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Tanko Sununu Yusuf.

Others are members of the National Assembly, members of the state House of Assembly, former governor of Kebbi State, Usman Saidu Nasamu Daking­ari; Senator Bala Ibn Na Allah, Director General of NEMA, Ha­jiya Zubaida Umar; Secretary to Kebbi State Government, Yakubu Bala, other members of the state executive council; senior govern­ment officials, as well as heads of military and para-military.

Tinubu Shelves Foreign Trips Over Bandit Attacks In Kebbi, Kwara

Meanwhile, indications emerged on Wednesday, that President Bola Tinubu shelved his planned trip to South Africa and Angola, where he was scheduled to participate in the G20 summit, because of recent security breach­es that culminated in the kidnap of over 20 students in Kebbi State.

Beyond the Kebbi incident that has left the Federal Government unsettled, the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, also contrib­uted to the president postponing his trip to both nations.

Tinubu was scheduled to depart Abuja on Wednesday to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and there­after proceed to Luanda to attend the 7th AU-EU Summit.

This came just as the president had earlier instructed Vice Pres­ident Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi and bring him detailed re­port of the situation on ground.

No sooner had Shettima ar­rived Kebbi, he went into closed door meeting with the governor, Nasir Idris, and other stakehold­ers.

The list of the abducted stu­dents was later released. They include: SSS 3A and B: Salima Garba Umar Senchi, Salima Sani Zirmi, Amina G. Umar, Rashida Mohammed Dungu, Saliha Umar, Aisha Usman, Jamila Ilyasu, Maryam Ilyasu,

Naja-atu Abdullahi, and Zani­ab Kolo.

SSS 2A: Faitma Sani Zimri, Hafsat Ibrahim, Nana Fiddausi Ji­brin, and Mas’uda Yakubu Tomo. SSS 2B: Hauwa’u Saleh.

JSS 3A: Surayya Tukur, Hafsat Umar Yalmo, Mary Usman, Ami­na Ilyasu, and Ikilima Suleiman.

JSS 2: Khadija Nazifi, Hauwa’u Ilyasu, Hauwa’u Lawali, and Um­mulkursim Abdul-Karim.

Earlier, Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesman, had released a statement saying, “In response to the request by the governor of Kwara State, Presi­dent Tinubu has ordered the de­ployment of more security men to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of the state, and directed the police to go after the bandits who attacked worshippers”.

Onanuga also stated that be­cause Tinubu is disturbed by the security breaches in Kebbi State and Monday’s attack by bandits against worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, the president decided to suspend his departure.

“He now awaits reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who paid a sympathy visit to Keb­bi on his behalf, as well as reports from the police and the Depart­ment of State Services regarding the attack in Kwara.

“President Tinubu reiterates his directive to the security agen­cies to do everything possible to rescue the 24 schoolgirls, abducted by the bandits and bring the girls back home, safe,” Onanuga stated.