Shettima Visits Kebbi, Meets Families of Abducted Schoolgirls

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday travelled to Kebbi State to address the fallout from the abduction of students from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga. His visit follows President Bola Tinubu’s directive for urgent federal action after the shocking attack.

Gunmen had stormed the school in the early hours of Monday, seizing at least 25 schoolgirls and killing the vice principal. The assault triggered nationwide outrage and fears over the resurgence of school-targeted violence in the region.

Shettima is scheduled to meet Governor Nasiru Idris, traditional rulers and security commanders to review ongoing rescue operations. His engagements are expected to shape immediate intervention strategies and restore confidence among distressed residents.

The Vice President will also visit the families of the kidnapped students to deliver the President’s assurance that the government is committed to securing their safe release. Authorities say the administration is treating the incident as a top priority.

A high-level delegation, including senior federal officials from humanitarian, women affairs and emergency management agencies, accompanied Shettima. Their presence signals a coordinated federal approach to managing the crisis.

Local hunters have joined security forces in tracking the attackers across surrounding forests. One of the abducted girls reportedly managed to escape shortly after the incident, raising faint hope for more breakthroughs.

The attack has renewed concerns over persistent banditry in the northwest, where communities continue to suffer deadly raids and mass abductions despite ongoing security deployments.

President Tinubu earlier condemned the raid and mourned the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other soldiers in a separate attack in Borno State, describing the events as deeply distressing for the nation.