President Bola Tinubu has directed Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle to relocate immediately to Kebbi State to oversee the rescue of 24 schoolgirls abducted from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town. The girls were taken during a 4:00 a.m. attack by gunmen on Monday. While security agencies have launched a manhunt for the perpetrators, the victims remain missing. The President’s directive, disclosed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, aims to ensure the safe return of the students.
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. His prior experience includes handling the February 2021 abduction of 279 students from the Government Girls Science Secondary School in Jangebe, Zamfara State, which ended with the students’ release after negotiations and security operations. The minister’s involvement is seen as a strategic move to leverage his expertise in combating banditry and mass abductions.
President Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trips 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. He reaffirmed his commitment to securing the safe return of the abducted students and strengthening security responses across vulnerable areas.
The kidnapping has heightened concerns about Nigeria’s security situation, especially in the northern regions. The government’s response is being closely watched, and the involvement of the Minister of State for Defence is viewed as a significant step toward resolving the crisis. As the search for the abducted students continues, the effectiveness of the government’s security measures will remain under scrutiny.
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