President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the release of 24 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, last Monday, urging security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue other students still in captivity.

The girls were kidnapped at dawn on November 17, shortly after a military detachment had left the school premises. The attack in Kebbi reportedly triggered a wave of copycat kidnappings in Eruku, Kwara State, and Papiri, Niger State.

This was disclosed in a statement released on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Praise for Security Agencies

The statement said President Tinubu commended security operatives for their “relentless efforts” in securing the release of the victims. He urged them to maintain heightened vigilance to prevent further abductions.

“President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the release today of the 24 schoolgirls abducted by terrorists in Maga, Kebbi, last Monday,” the statement read. “The Kebbi incident triggered some other copycat kidnappings in Eruku, Kwara State, and Papiri, Niger State.”

The statement also noted that all 38 kidnapped victims in Eruku were freed on Sunday, and that 50 of the missing students from the Catholic School in Niger State have returned safely to their families.

“I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for. Now, we must urgently deploy more security personnel to vulnerable areas to avert further kidnappings. My government will provide all necessary assistance to achieve this,” Tinubu added.

Silence on Accountability

Notably, the President did not address the issue of justice for the victims or any measures to hold the perpetrators accountable, raising concerns among observers about the long-term deterrence of such attacks.