The Federal Government has reportedly initiated plans to establish a joint task force comprising personnel from the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies to rescue students recently abducted across northern Nigeria.
The development followed a briefing by the Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Tosin Adeola Ajayi, to President Bola Tinubu on the country’s security situation amid renewed waves of school kidnappings. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the meeting on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, stating that Ajayi met with the President on Friday night. Photographs released afterwards showed the DSS chief in the President’s office.
No formal statement was issued following the briefing. However, an official familiar with the discussions told our correspondent that the meeting focused on planned operations to track and rescue abducted students, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions.
When contacted to confirm the task force, the presidential spokesman told Sunday PUNCH that such an arrangement “is possible” but declined to provide further details.
The move comes in the wake of multiple recent abductions. At least 26 students were kidnapped from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, on Monday. Separately, gunmen attacked Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, killing two worshippers and abducting 38 others. On Friday, over 303 children and 12 teachers were kidnapped after gunmen stormed St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
Following the Kebbi abduction, President Tinubu directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to the state to coordinate security operations and monitor efforts to rescue the missing girls.
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