President Bola Tinubu has assured the safe return of 25 students abducted at the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi.

He said this during a visit on Wednesday to sympathise with the government, parents and people of the state in Birnin Kebbi.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Mr Tinubu said the girls must return home safely.

“I visit you here today on behalf of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, carrying the heavy burden and sorrow of the nation shaken by the abduction of 25 young school girls of Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga in Kebbi.

“Your Excellency, Kebbi’s pain is Nigeria’s pain. When one child is taken, every home in this nation grieves. When girls in the safety of their classroom are seized by criminals, our collective conscience is assaulted.

“Mr President is deeply troubled by this tragedy. He shares your anguish and he has sent me to tell you that this is not a moment of politics and this grief transcends party lines, geography and identity.

“This is a time for unity, for compassion and for firm resolve in the face of evil. Our priority is singular and unflinching: our daughters must return home safely,” he said.

Mr Tinubu commended the gallant officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Nigerian Police Force, the State Security Service, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and all paramilitary and intelligence agencies.

“Your courage, your tirelessness and your sacrifices open and unseen remain the backbone of our nation’s security. You stand on the frontline, so that the rest of us will sleep with hope, the nation appreciates you. We also honour the ultimate sacrifice made by some of our brave officers and soldiers.

“To the family of the late Brig.-Gen. Musa Uba, we say his sacrifice will never be forgotten. When a soldier gives his life in defence of this nation, a part of our collective soul is touched. We will honour him, his family and all who pay the supreme price in service to Nigeria.

“We will honour and take care of the family of the Vice Principal of the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga. He paid the ultimate price in defence of his daughters and his students,” Mr Tinubu said.

He also commended Gov. Nasir Idris, community leaders, vigilantes, civil society partners, and all stakeholders who rallied together in this moment of distress.

“Your cooperation, your vigilance and your unity are indispensable to the search of our girls and to the safety of our community. I assure you that your tears, fears and cries stain our collective conscience and shall not turn away from this responsibility.

“This government will not relent. We will use every instrument of the state to bring these girls home and to ensure that the perpetrators of this wickedness pay the full weight of justice.

“Kebbi, you are not alone, Nigeria stands with you and we shall not rest until your daughters, our daughters, return to you,” he said.

Responding, Mr Idris thanked Mr Tinubu for the visit, assuring that the federal and security agencies were doing everything possible to rescue the abducted school girls.

According to Mr Idris, the state government is partnering with the security agencies by giving them an enabling environment to do the needful.

“Today is not a day of speech; it is a very sad day for us.

“Because if you look at the girls they are very young who are in school to pursue knowledge, unfortunately, these notorious people went to the school in the night and abducted them.

“We pray these girls will be rescued unhurt soon. We have directed all our clerics in the state to intensify prayers for the safe rescue of these girls,” he said.

(NAN)