, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called on troops deployed in Operation FANSAN YANMA){kind=link}
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, has called on troops deployed in Operation FANSAN YANMA to intensify efforts in the ongoing search-and-rescue mission for 25 students kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) Maga.
The attack on Monday left the school’s vice principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, dead and plunged the community into shock. The gunmen abducted the students before fleeing into the surrounding forests.
During his visit to Kebbi, Shaibu met with frontline commanders and instructed them to sustain round-the-clock operations until all the schoolgirls are recovered safely.
“We must continue day and night operations. The lives of these children are our top priority,” he told troops.
He urged officers to rely on intelligence-driven strategies, stressing that the bandits often target vulnerable locations.
“When you act decisively on credible intelligence, you reduce the risk to civilians and improve your chances of success. This is about professionalism and duty,” Shaibu added.
The army chief also engaged local vigilantes and hunters, emphasising their critical role in navigating the terrain and providing actionable intelligence.
“Your knowledge of these forests is invaluable. Together, we can corner these criminals and restore peace,” he said.
Shaibu further encouraged them to coordinate closely with soldiers to ensure no hideout is left unchecked.
Earlier, Shaibu paid a condolence visit to Abubakar Ibrahim Allaje, the traditional ruler of Danko, and Rabi Musa Magaji, principal of the affected school.
He reassured both that the military remains fully committed to rescuing the abducted students unharmed.
“We will not relent. Every available resource is being deployed to bring these girls home safely,” the COAS affirmed.
The military’s heightened presence in Kebbi underscores a broader effort to combat banditry in northern Nigeria, with authorities vowing that attacks on schools will not deter children from education.