By John Umeh
The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Tuesday arrived in Maga, Kebbi State, where he issued a decisive directive to troops battling banditry in the region: leave no stone unturned in the effort to rescue the schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School.
The attack, which claimed the life of the school’s vice-principal and resulted in the kidnapping of 25 students, has triggered nationwide alarm. General Shaibu visited the affected community to assess the situation firsthand and rally the forces under Operation Fasin Yamma.
Addressing the soldiers, he warned that the criminals had shifted to hitting “soft and symbolic targets,” particularly schools, in an attempt to sow fear among residents.
“We must neutralize that strategy,” he said. “Your operations must be continuous — day and night. These children must be found and returned home safely.”
He urged field commanders to rely heavily on timely intelligence and to respond quickly and decisively to every credible lead. According to him, the rescue mission is not just a military responsibility but a moral one.
During his visit, the Army Chief also held an operational meeting with local vigilantes and hunters assisting security forces. He underscored the significance of their local knowledge, describing them as an indispensable part of the search effort.
“You know these forests better than anyone else,” Shaibu told them. “Your intelligence and courage give us an advantage. Move through every part of the bush — we will support you all the way.”
He condemned the bandits’ strategy of targeting schools, calling it a deliberate attempt to frighten young people away from education.
“We refuse to allow fear to become a weapon,” he declared. “Children must go to school without looking over their shoulders.”
General Shaibu later visited the traditional ruler of Danko, Abubakar Allaje, and the school principal, Rabi Magaji, to express condolences and assure them of the military’s determination to bring the girls back alive.
Reiterating the Army’s resolve, he said:
“We are fully committed to this mission. We will stay on it until every girl is safely home. Their rescue is a national duty.”
