By Kingston Magare 18.11.2025
Nigeria army’s Operation “FANSAN YANMA” troops have stepped up the searching for the 25 students at the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State who were kidnapped on Monday by bandits and killed their vice principal Hassan Yakubu Makuku.
According to reports by counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama, Chief of Army Staff, Maj. Gen. Waidi Shaibu and other army top brass, have arrived in Kebbi to marshall the troops in search of the missing girls.
Maj. General Shaibu held an operational meeting with frontline commanders and later charged soldiers to sustain round-the-clock operations until all the schoolgirls are found and safely returned.
“You must continue day and night fighting. We must find these children.
“For the commanders here, you must leverage intelligence to conduct intelligence-based missions. It has become a pattern that bandits target soft targets. If they know you are in a location, they will not come there or face you in a fight, and you can defeat them, can’t you?
“You must have all the commitment to make sure you succeed. Once you receive intelligence of something of this nature, you must act professionally and decisively. This is not just about our image; it is about doing our job properly.”
He also local vigilantes and hunters to join in the search for the students.
“If we have people like you, it is you who will work with us and provide local intelligence. You know these forests, and you are the ones to tell us where the criminals are.
“Your hunters should storm the nooks and crannies of these forests. Soldiers will also join you. We are counting on you to work with us to bring lasting peace.
“What these evil people are trying to do is to scare children from going to school. Let every man know we will not allow that.”