By Prosper Mene
The Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Rev. Dr. Emmanuel Adewale, has accused the country of sliding into “total chaos” and demanded that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu use every available means to secure the immediate release of 24 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
In an open letter released Friday evening and now circulating widely across social media, the Archbishop wrote: “Nigeria is in chaos. Innocent children are being dragged from their hostels at gunpoint while a Vice Principal lies dead for daring to protect them. The tears of Kebbi mothers have reached heaven and must reach the seat of power. Mr President, these 24 girls must come home alive – not next month, not after another committee, but now.”
The attack took place in the early hours of Monday 18 November when more than 50 heavily armed bandits stormed the school around 4:15 a.m. They scaled the perimeter fence, opened fire indiscriminately, and shot dead the Vice Principal (Academic), Malam Hassan Yakubu Makuku, who tried to block their path. Speaking in Fulani and Hausa, the gunmen rounded up female students from the hostels, selected 24 girls aged 12 to 16, tied their hands, and marched them into the surrounding forest. One 14-year-old student, Aisha Usman, pretended to collapse and was left behind; she later raised the alarm.
President Tinubu condemned the kidnapping the same day and ordered full mobilisation of security agencies. On Wednesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Birnin Kebbi, met Governor Nasir Idris, consoled affected families, and led special prayers at the Emir’s palace. On Thursday, the President directed the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, who as governor of Zamfara in 2021 secured the release of 279 abducted Jangebe schoolgirls without ransom, to relocate immediately to the Sokoto-Kebbi axis until the girls are freed. Matawalle arrived Birnin Kebbi yesterday morning with additional troops.
The President has also postponed scheduled state visits to South Africa and Angola to monitor developments hourly. Joint rescue teams from the Nigerian Army’s 8 Division, Police Mobile Force, Department of State Services, and local hunters are currently sweeping Kyanbakibu and Rijau forests, supported by Nigerian Air Force helicopter surveillance. Security sources say the girls remain within a 30–40 kilometre radius and have not yet been moved across the border into Niger Republic.
Public anger has surged online, with #RescueKebbiGirlsNow trending nationwide and many accusing the government of repeating the slow response seen in past abductions. #BringBackOurGirls co-founder Oby Ezekwesili lamented that eleven years after Chibok, Nigeria is “still here.” The Christian Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs have jointly declared seven days of national prayer and fasting beginning tomorrow.
Parents continue to camp outside the school gate, sleeping on mats under lanterns as they await news of their daughters. In his closing words, Archbishop Adewale warned President Tinubu: “History is watching. Posterity will judge whether we protected our children or abandoned them to bandits. Let these 24 girls be the last.”
The nation now waits, watches, and prays for their safe return.
