The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in Kebbi State on Tuesday following the abduction of schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga.
During the visit, Egbetokun is expected to meet with Governor Nasir Idris and address personnel of the Nigeria Police Force stationed in the state, Channels Television reports.
The visit follows a security briefing with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Sunday, where rising abduction cases in Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara states were discussed. Present at the meeting were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyode; Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Kelvin Aneke; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Idi Abbas; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Major General E.A.P. Undiendeye; Chief of Army Staff, Major General Waidi Shaibu; and Director-General of the Department of State Services, Tosin Ajayi.
Bandits attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in the early hours of November 17, killing the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, while abducting several students. Reports indicate that the gunmen operated unhindered during the assault, shooting Makuku as he attempted to protect the pupils.
Amid the Kebbi incident, another large-scale abduction occurred last Friday in Niger State at St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School, Papiri. Armed men reportedly arrived in large numbers on over 60 motorcycles accompanied by a van, critically injuring the school’s gatekeeper.
The assailants abducted 315 students from the Catholic-owned institution, although 50 managed to escape. Christian Association of Nigeria officials confirmed that the rescued students regained freedom between Friday and Saturday. CAN Chairman in Niger State and Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev. Bulus Yohanna, corroborated the report of the escapes.
The IGP’s visit underscores the urgency of addressing rising insecurity and school abductions in northern Nigeria.
