Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Kebbi State to engage with the state government and families of the schoolgirls abducted by gunmen from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga.
His aircraft touched down at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi, where he was received by state officials. Shettima travelled with the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, and other senior government representatives.
The Vice President’s visit follows a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who tasked him with delivering a message of solidarity to the people of Kebbi State. Shettima is expected to receive a full briefing on the situation, which he will relay to the President as security agencies intensify efforts to rescue the kidnapped students.
The attack on the Kebbi school also claimed the life of the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, who was reportedly killed while trying to stop the bandits from abducting the girls. On Monday, the police confirmed that a combined tactical team had been deployed to comb nearby forests in search of the victims.
President Tinubu has condemned the assault and expressed his condolences to the affected families. He also postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg and Luanda for the 20th G20 Summit and the 7th AU-EU Summit, respectively, in order to focus on the unfolding security emergencies in Kebbi and Kwara States.
What You Should Know
Vice President Shettima’s visit to Kebbi comes amid intensified efforts to rescue abducted schoolgirls from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga.
Acting on President Tinubu’s orders, he is meeting with state authorities and families of the victims while gathering updates for the President.
The attack also led to the death of Vice Principal Hassan Makuku, and Tinubu has postponed key international engagements to address the security challenges.
