Tinubu condemns abduction of Kebbi schoolgirls, Gen Uba’s death

President Bola Tinubu has condemned the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the death of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other soldiers in Borno State.
In a statement shared via his X handle on Wednesday, the President said, “I am heartbroken by the abduction of our daughters in Kebbi and the painful loss of Brigadier General Musa Uba and the brave soldiers who fell in Borno. Their families and the families of the kidnapped schoolgirls are in my prayers.”
As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Tinubu said he is “depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty” and prayed for comfort for the bereaved families.
“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.
“I am fully apprised of the recent uptick in violent extremism in pockets across the country, and I have directed our security agencies to respond with urgency, clarity, and decisive action.
“Our forces need the full cooperation of every community. Sharing information can save lives and protect our children,” Tinubu added.
He warned that “those who threaten the safety of our citizens will face the full weight of the Nigerian state.”
The abductions occurred in the early hours of Monday, when gunmen stormed the dormitory of the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, Kebbi State.
The attackers killed the school’s vice principal and a security guard during the raid before fleeing with 25 students.
One of the girls, however, reportedly safely escaped, as hunters and security forces intensify their search for the remaining missing students.
Separately, Brigadier General Musa Uba, commander of the Nigerian Army’s 25 Task Force Brigade based in Damboa, Borno State, was reportedly ambushed and captured by militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province on Friday, during a convoy operation near Wajiroko village.
The jihadist group claimed responsibility on Monday, stating they had executed the senior officer along with other captured soldiers, though the Nigerian Army initially denied the claims.
Tinubu’s statement confirmed Uba’s death, describing him as one of the “brave soldiers who fell in Borno.”