L-R: Sunday Aneke, Chief of Air Staff; Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff; Kayode Egbetokun, Inspector General of Police and Tosin Adeola Ajayi, director-general of the Department of State Services, briefing President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja. Sunday, November 23, 2025
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive security cordon over forests in Kwara and adjoining states following the recent killings and abductions linked to armed groups.
In a statement on his X page, Tinubu directed the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) to widen air surveillance across swathes of vegetation in Kwara — which serve as hideouts for bandits and terrorists.
The president also announced that all abducted schoolgirls in Kebbi state had been safely rescued and praised the security agencies for what he described as a rapid and coordinated response.
“All the schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi State have been safely rescued. I must commend our security forces for their swift response, and the parents and community for their strength during this period,” he wrote.
Advertisement
“In response to the recent kidnappings and acts of terrorism, I have ordered a full security cordon over the forests in Kwara State.
“The Air Force is to maintain continuous surveillance over the most remote areas, synchronising operations with ground units to effectively identify, isolate, disrupt, and neutralise all hostile elements.
“This directive also extends to the Kebbi and Niger axis.
Advertisement
“Communities are encouraged to report any unusual movements to support ongoing operations as we move decisively to secure every affected area.”
The schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi, were rescued on Tuesday.
The girls were seized at dawn on the day a military detachment reportedly left the school premises.
The Kebbi attack triggered similar abductions in Eruku, Kwara state and Papiri in Niger state.
Advertisement
All 38 victims abducted in Eruku regained freedom on Sunday.
On the same day, the Niger state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) said 50 of the over 300 students abducted from a Catholic school in the state had escaped from their abductors.
