President Bola Tinubu has expressed strong grief over the killing of Nigerian military personnel on active duty and the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State, describing both incidents as deeply unsettling for him and for members of his administration.
Presidency insiders said that the President, who is scheduled to attend the G20 Summit in South Africa, had considered cancelling the trip as he followed updates on the attacks. They said he struggled with the news as he met with his aides late on Sunday.
His Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Sunday Dare, wrote on his X handle that the President’s reaction was unmistakable. According to Dare, the President spoke with clear emotion when he said he was troubled by the loss of soldiers who were carrying out their duty. He offered prayers for Brigadier General Musa Uba and the other personnel who died in the line of service.
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The President said he was equally unsettled by the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi, which he described as a cruel assault on the young and defenceless. He said he had already instructed security agencies to move with speed and return the children safely to their families.
Presidency sources added that he viewed the abduction as an attack on the country’s future, noting that among the schoolgirls are potential professionals whose lives should not be shaped by fear or violence.
The President had earlier directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi to console the affected families and the wider community. He also reaffirmed his order to security operatives to rescue the girls and bring the perpetrators to justice.
