The Federal Government is reportedly exploring the formation of a joint security task force to tackle the rising incidents of school kidnappings in Nigeria. The team is expected to include personnel from the military, police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other relevant agencies.

The move follows a briefing to President Bola Tinubu by DSS Director-General Tosin Ajayi on the current security situation across the country. Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed the meeting in a post on X, noting that photographs showed Ajayi in the President’s office. No formal statement on the discussions has been released.

An official familiar with the meeting told reporters that the talks primarily focused on operations to locate and rescue abducted schoolchildren, particularly in the North-West and North-Central regions. When approached for comment on the task force, the presidential spokesman described the initiative as “possible” but offered no additional details.

This development comes amid several recent attacks. In Kebbi State, 26 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga were abducted earlier this week. In Kwara State, gunmen attacked worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, killing two people and kidnapping 38 others. On Friday, over 303 students and 12 teachers were abducted at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State.

In response to the Kebbi abduction, President Tinubu directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to the state to oversee security operations and coordinate efforts to recover the missing students.