President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State to oversee the rescue efforts of 24 abducted schoolgirls. The girls were taken from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State, during a 4:00 a.m. attack on Monday by gunmen.
Security agencies have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, but the victims remain unrescued. The President’s directive, disclosed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, aims to ensure the safe return of the students. Mr. Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, is expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday and will provide direct feedback to the Presidency on the rescue efforts.
As a former governor, Mr. Matawalle has experience in handling similar situations, including the abduction of 279 students from the Government Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara State, in February 2021. The students were released after negotiations and security efforts. The Minister’s involvement is seen as a strategic move to leverage his expertise in tackling banditry and mass abductions.
President Tinubu has also postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, to receive further security briefings on the Kebbi schoolgirls’ abduction and a recent attack on worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State. The President has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring the safe return of the abducted students and strengthening security responses across vulnerable areas.
The abduction of the schoolgirls has raised concerns about the security situation in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions. The government’s response to the incident is being closely watched, and the involvement of the Minister of State for Defence is seen as a significant step towards resolving the crisis. As the search for the abducted students continues, the government’s ability to respond effectively to security challenges will be under scrutiny.