COAS Orders Troops to Intensify Hunt for Abducted Kebbi Schoolgirls

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has directed troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to leave no stone unturned in the ongoing search for the 25 students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, Kebbi.

The gunmen, on Monday, killed Hassan Yakubu Makuku, the school’s vice principal, and abducted the students during a violent raid.

During a visit to the state, Shaibu held an operational meeting with frontline commanders before addressing troops deployed in the rescue operation. He urged officers and soldiers to intensify day and night operations until all the schoolgirls are safely rescued.

“You must continue day and night fighting. We must find these children,” he told the troops.

Shaibu also charged commanders to leverage intelligence in conducting targeted missions, stressing that bandits often attack soft targets and that the military must act decisively whenever credible information is received.

“For the commanders here, you must act professionally and decisively. This is not just about our image; it is about doing our job properly,” he said.

In addition, the army chief engaged with local vigilantes and hunters supporting the operation, urging them to complement military efforts to bring the abducted students back safely.