Shettima Visits Kebbi, Meets With Families of Kidnapped Schoolgirls

Vice President Kashim Shettima arrived in Kebbi State on Wednesday to hold talks with the state government and the families of the abducted girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, who were taken by armed bandits.

Shettima’s aircraft touched down at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, where top state officials received him.

The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, and other senior government aides accompanied him.

His visit follows a direct instruction from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who mandated the Vice President to assess the situation and personally reassure the affected families.

According to the Presidency, Shettima is expected to deliver President Tinubu’s message of solidarity to the people of Kebbi State and receive a detailed briefing for onward communication to the Commander-in-Chief.

The President had earlier condemned the attack, describing it as a heartbreaking assault on innocent children. Tinubu also expressed condolences to the families of those affected and emphasised that the abducted girls must be rescued without delay.

The latest attack, which occurred on Sunday, led to the death of the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, who was reportedly killed while attempting to prevent the gunmen from taking the girls away.

The police said a combined tactical team has been deployed to comb the surrounding forests in an intensified effort to locate and rescue the abducted students.

In response to the growing security concerns, President Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the G20 Summit, and Luanda, Angola, for the AU-EU Summit.