Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has ordered troops of Operation FANSAN YANMA to intensify round-the-clock operations in the ongoing search for students abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, Kebbi State.

Gunmen attacked the school on Monday, killing the vice principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, and abducting 25 students.

During his visit to Kebbi on Tuesday, the army chief held an operational meeting with frontline commanders before addressing soldiers deployed for the rescue mission. Shaibu urged the troops to demonstrate absolute commitment and determination until the victims are safely recovered.

“You must continue day and night fighting. We must find these children,” he charged.

Shaibu directed commanders to rely heavily on actionable intelligence and conduct precision operations, noting that bandits have adopted a pattern of targeting soft locations.

“For the commanders here, you must leverage intelligence to conduct intelligence-based missions,” he said. “If bandits 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?”

He stressed that professionalism and swift response to credible intelligence were mandatory.

“This is not just about our image; it is about doing our job properly,” he added.

The COAS also held a closed-door meeting with local vigilantes and hunters supporting the ongoing operations.