Kebbi School Abduction Occurred ‘Despite Intelligence Warnings,’ Confirms President Tinubu, Vowing Swift Rescue and Dispatching VP Shettima

President Bola Tinubu today, Tuesday, November 18, 2025, revealed that the mass abduction of 25 female students from a secondary school in Kebbi State occurred despite “intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits.” The President’s admission, contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, underscores a serious operational lapse within the security architecture.

The attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, on Monday morning resulted in the abduction of the students and the tragic killing of the school’s Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku.

President Tinubu described the attack as a “painful setback” in the fight against insecurity. “I am also depressed that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls,” the statement read, confirming that he had received full briefings from military authorities on the incident.

VP Shettima Dispatched to Kebbi

In a swift move to show presidential engagement, President Tinubu announced that he has directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to travel to Kebbi State on Wednesday. The Vice President is tasked with conveying the government’s message of solidarity, consoling the grieving families, and assuring them of the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to the swift and safe return of the students.

While expressing deep sorrow, the President commended Kebbi State Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris for efforts made at the state level to avert the kidnapping. He, however, placed a strong emphasis on the need for citizen cooperation, arguing that security agencies cannot succeed in protecting communities if citizens fail to share information that can help thwart criminal networks.

The President’s statement also addressed the nation’s simultaneous security challenges, offering condolences to the military over the deaths of soldiers and Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno State, lamenting the dual tragedies and reaffirming his resolve as Commander-in-Chief.