By Ayomide Otitoju
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has arrived in Kebbi State on an official visit as security agencies continue rescue operations for abducted schoolgirls in the region.
During the visit, the IGP is scheduled to meet with Governor Nasir Idris and address officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force. His trip follows a meeting with President Bola Tinubu on Sunday at the State House, where Egbetokun discussed the worsening security situation in the country, including the wave of abductions in Kebbi, Niger, and Kwara States. He was joined by senior military officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Defence Intelligence, and the Chief of Army Staff.
The visit comes after gunmen attacked the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga, Kebbi State, on November 17. During the assault, several schoolgirls were abducted, and the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, was killed while attempting to protect the students. The attackers operated with little resistance, causing widespread panic in the Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, Niger State experienced a similar assault at St. Mary’s Primary and Secondary School in Papiri last Friday. Armed men reportedly arrived on over 60 motorcycles accompanied by a van, shooting the school gatekeeper and abducting 315 students, though 50 managed to escape. Most. Rev. Bulus Yohanna, Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, confirmed that escaped pupils have since reunited with their parents.
The Niger State Police Command said tactical units and the military are actively searching for the abducted pupils. Security forces across Nigeria remain on high alert, with President Tinubu canceling his planned trip to the G20 summit in South Africa; Vice President Kashim Shettima will attend in his place.
The recent spate of school kidnappings follows other attacks, including a church assault in western Nigeria that left two worshippers dead and dozens abducted. Gunmen also kidnapped 38 worshippers in Kwara State, demanding a ransom of 100 million naira per person, according to church officials.
The security situation has drawn international attention, with U.S. President Donald Trump previously threatening military action over attacks on Christians in Nigeria, a claim rejected by the Nigerian government, which says Muslims are the majority of victims of armed group attacks.
The IGP’s visit underscores the urgent need for coordinated security responses amid mounting public concern over the safety of schools and places of worship.
