Insensitive! Nigerians knock Tinubu as Shettima attends Kogi APC rally hours after Kebbi schoolgirls’ abduction

Many Nigerians on social media have criticised President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after Vice President Kashim Shettima and other top party figures travelled to Kogi State for a political rally—less than a day after 25 schoolgirls were abducted in Kebbi State.

Vice President Shettima arrived in Lokoja on Monday evening alongside Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, APC National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and several senior party members. They were in the state to welcome a number of politicians defecting to the APC.

Shettima’s spokesperson, Stanley Nkwocha, confirmed the trip by sharing a video of the vice president alighting from the presidential jet, stating he was representing President Tinubu at the event.

But the timing of the rally has angered many Nigerians, who say the government should be focused on rescuing the abducted children rather than holding political gatherings. Some described the move as “insensitive”, “poorly timed” and “a slap in the face” of grieving families.

The abduction took place around 4 a.m. on Monday when armed men invaded Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. The attackers shot sporadically before abducting 25 female students. The Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, was killed, while a security guard, Ali Shehu, sustained gunshot wounds.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar condemned the attack, describing the news as “devastating.” He called for swift and decisive action to rescue the girls.

President Tinubu, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, later condemned the kidnapping and directed security agencies to rescue the girls and bring the perpetrators to justice.

The incident has revived painful memories of the 2014 Chibok school girls’ abduction, which occurred during Shettima’s tenure as governor of Borno State. Many Nigerians fear a repeat of that tragedy.

Outrage poured in across X (formerly Twitter), with several Nigerians expressing disappointment:

•Amina Yusuf (@AminaSpeaksNG): “How do you attend a political rally when children were kidnapped hours earlier? This is beyond insensitive.”

•Chinedu Okorie (@ChineduWrites): “This government always finds time for politics but never urgency for security. Shameful.”

•Fatima Bello (@Fati_Bello_01): “Parents are crying in Kebbi, yet our leaders are celebrating defections in Kogi. Where is the empathy?”

•Kunle Lawal (@KunleInsight): “Leadership is about priorities. Today’s actions show clearly where theirs lies—and it’s not with the children.”

•Emeka Duru (@EmekaDuru_247): “Tinubu and Shettima should have cancelled that rally. Even a simple show of respect matters in times like this.”

Despite the backlash, government officials insist that security agencies are working around the clock to rescue the abducted girls.

Many Nigerians, however, say the administration must show more compassion and urgency in handling tragedies affecting schoolchildren.