The Defence Headquarters has raised serious concern over the recent abductions at Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, and St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Niger State.
According to the Christian Association of Nigeria in Niger State, 303 pupils and students are now confirmed missing from St. Mary’s, while 25 girls were taken from the school in Kebbi.
Following the Kebbi incident, the state governor alleged that troops were withdrawn from the area about 30 minutes before the attack.
In a statement on Sunday, the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, condemned the attacks and assured that the military was fully engaged in operations to rescue the victims and apprehend the attackers.
He said, “The Defence Headquarters is deeply concerned about the unfortunate abduction of the 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi and the students in Niger State. We condemn this heinous act in the strongest terms. Our thoughts remain with the students, their families, and the affected communities.”
He added that the Armed Forces were actively conducting rescue operations in both locations.
Onoja also addressed the governor’s allegation regarding troop withdrawal before the attack. He confirmed that an internal review had begun to uncover the circumstances surrounding troop movement at the time.
He explained that all military decisions are based on intelligence and the broader security situation, and assured that any lapse identified in the review would be corrected immediately.
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He said, “A thorough review is underway to ascertain what happened regarding troop deployment. If any gap is identified, immediate corrective action will be taken to prevent a recurrence.”
Onoja stressed that rescuing the abducted students remained a top priority and assured Nigerians that troops were acting on all credible intelligence.
He added that the Defence Headquarters was working closely with state authorities, community leaders, and security agencies to enhance protection around schools and vulnerable communities.
He concluded by reassuring Nigerians that despite rising insecurity in parts of the North, the Armed Forces remain committed to restoring peace and stability across affected areas.
