President Bola Tinubu has cancelled high-profile international engagements to confront a surge in violent attacks, vowing that those threatening national security will face the “full weight of the Nigerian state” following the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi and the killing of a senior army commander in Borno.
The President’s decisive move comes as the nation reels from a double blow by armed groups, which he described as “heartbreaking” and “depressing”.
In a statement issued from Abuja on Wednesday, President Tinubu confirmed the death of Brigadier General Musa Uba, commander of the 25 Task Force Brigade in Damboa, alongside other soldiers, during an ambush by militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in Borno State.
“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,” the President stated via his official X handle.
The President, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, expressed profound grief over the incidents. “I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty,” he said, praying for divine comfort for the bereaved families.
The first crisis unfolded in the early hours of Monday when gunmen stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, located in Kebbi State’s Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area. The attackers killed the school’s vice principal and a security guard before abducting 25 students from their dormitory.
Reports from the area indicate that one of the abducted girls has since managed to escape, as local hunters and security forces intensify search operations for the remaining 24.
“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,” President Tinubu declared.
Separately, a military convoy was ambushed near Wajiroko village in Borno State last Friday. ISWAP claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it had captured and executed Brigadier General Uba and other soldiers. While the Nigerian Army had initially denied the claim, the President’s statement on Wednesday served as the first official confirmation of the senior officer’s death.
Citing these grave security challenges, President Tinubu postponed his scheduled trip to South Africa for the G20 Leaders’ Summit and a subsequent AU-EU Summit in Angola.
A statement from the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, explained that Tinubu is “awaiting reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima,” who paid a sympathy visit to Kebbi on his behalf, as well as updates from security agencies on the church attack in Kwara State.
The President emphasised a renewed strategy to counter the threats, noting he is “fully apprised of the recent uptick in violent extremism in pockets across the country.”
He has consequently “directed our security agencies to respond with urgency, clarity, and decisive action.”
In a direct appeal to the public, President Tinubu stressed that citizen cooperation is vital. “Our forces need the full cooperation of every community. Sharing information can save lives and protect our children,” he said.
He ended his statement with a stern warning to the perpetrators, asserting that “those who threaten the safety of our citizens will face the full weight of the Nigerian state.”
The federal government’s response is now under intense scrutiny as the nation awaits the safe return of the Kebbi schoolgirls and further details on the operational losses in Borno.
