President Bola Tinubu has come under renewed pressure to confront escalating insecurity as two major incidents, the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno, have sparked nationwide concern over the country’s security architecture.
While reacting to the events on Wednesday, Tinubu acknowledged the mounting anxiety across the country, describing the tragedies as distressing and calling them a reminder of the “urgent need for decisive action.”
In a message posted on X, the President said he was “depressed” by the loss of military personnel and the abduction of students, promising accelerated efforts to retrieve the victims and bring perpetrators to justice.
The Kebbi school attack occurred in the early hours of Monday when armed bandits stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, killing a staff member before abducting 25 students.
Police said the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, breached the school fence and escaped before reinforcements could arrive, raising questions about response time and the vulnerability of rural schools.
The incident revives grim memories of the 2014 Chibok abduction, which triggered global outrage but failed to halt a pattern of student kidnappings that has since spread across several northern states.
Compounding public frustration was the military’s conflicting communication regarding the fate of Brigadier General Musa Uba, who was ambushed alongside his troops by ISWAP fighters two days earlier.
Initial claims by the Army suggested the General was safe and that no soldiers had been killed; however, ISWAP later released photos confirming his capture and execution, forcing a reversal of the earlier military statement.
Security analysts say the contradictory accounts have further eroded public confidence and highlight coordination gaps within the system.
Tinubu, acknowledging the growing unrest, directed security agencies to act with “urgency, clarity, and decisive action,” insisting that violent groups will face the full force of the state. He also urged communities to share information that could help in protecting schools and preventing further attacks.
With the schoolgirls still missing and security personnel among the casualties, the latest incidents underscore a broader pattern of renewed extremist activity in several regions. Stakeholders warn that without strengthened intelligence networks and community partnerships, rescue operations may become more difficult — and more frequent.
