The Federal Government is reportedly preparing to establish a joint task force comprising the military, police, Department of State Services and other security agencies as Nigeria reels from a new wave of mass abductions targeting students and worshippers.
The move follows a late-night briefing to President Bola Tinubu by the Director-General of the DSS, Tosin Ajayi, on the country’s deteriorating security landscape. The meeting, disclosed by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga in a post on X on Saturday, included photographs of the spy chief in the president’s office, though no official statement was issued detailing the discussions.
An official familiar with the meeting told Sunday PUNCH that the talks focused on planned operations to track and rescue abducted schoolchildren across the North-West and North-Central regions. Pressed for confirmation, Onanuga said only that such an arrangement “is possible,” declining to offer further details.
The flurry of activity comes amid three major attacks in less than a week. Early on Monday, at least 26 students of Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, were seized by armed men. In Kwara State, gunmen attacked Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, killing two worshippers and abducting 38 others.
The most devastating assault occurred on Friday, when more than 303 children and 12 teachers were kidnapped after armed groups stormed St Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara local government area of Niger State.
Amid mounting public anger, Tinubu on Thursday directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi and “remain on ground” to oversee security operations and monitor the search for the missing schoolgirls.
The proposed joint task force is expected to consolidate intelligence and operational capacity across security institutions, though the presidency has yet to formally announce its composition or mandate.
