The Presidency has described the abductions reported in the State of Harmony, Kwara, and the Power State, Niger, as acts inspired by the recent attack on a school in Kebbi.
This report is based on a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The Presidency stated that the strike on a school in Maga, Kebbi State, where terrorists took 24 girls on November 17, appeared to spur similar attacks in Eruku, Kwara State, and Papiri in Niger State.
It confirmed that all 38 abducted victims in Eruku were released on Sunday, while the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria announced that 50 missing students of the Catholic school had returned home.
President Bola Tinubu praised security personnel for securing the freedom of the victims already rescued and urged them to intensify efforts to free those still in captivity.
“ I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for. Now, we must put as a matter of urgency more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping. My government will offer all the assistance needed to achieve this,” President Tinubu said.
The statement reads in part: “President Bola Tinubu has welcomed the release today of the 24 schoolgirls abducted by terrorists in Maga Kebbi last Monday.
“Terrorists struck at the school at dawn on November 17 and abducted the girls, moments after a military detachment left the premises.
“The Kebbi incident triggered some other copycat kidnappings in Eruku in Kwara State and Papiri in Niger State.
“All 38 kidnapped victims in Eruku were freed on Sunday. The same day, the Niger State chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria said 50 of the missing students of the Catholic School in Niger have been found in their parents’ homes.
“President Tinubu applauded the security agents for all the efforts made to secure freedom for all the victims taken away by the terrorists.
He tasked the security agents to make more efforts to rescue the remaining students still being held captive.”
