Investigate Troop Withdrawal Before Schoolgirls’ Abduction, Kebbi Governor Tells FG
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has called for an urgent investigation into the circumstances that led to the withdrawal of military personnel stationed near the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga shortly before armed men stormed the facility and abducted numerous students.
The early-morning attack left communities in the area shaken after gunmen invaded the school premises, overpowered local security operatives, and took several girls into the nearby forest. Some students reportedly managed to flee during the chaos, while a staff member was said to have been killed. The exact number of kidnapped pupils is still being reconciled as families and authorities compare school registers with accounts from returning students.
While receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Birnin Kebbi, Governor Idris expressed deep concern over reports that soldiers who had been providing security in the area were withdrawn less than an hour before I the attackers arrived.
According to him, the state government had earlier received intelligence about a looming threat and had convened security meetings to address it. He questioned why the deployment was altered at such a critical moment and insisted that whoever authorised the troop movement must be identified.
The governor added that the state had taken precautionary steps as soon as warning signals emerged, stressing that the sudden reduction in military presence was both alarming and unacceptable.
He vowed that his administration would not relent in pressing federal security agencies for answers, while also assuring families that every resource available would be utilised to recover the abducted schoolgirls.
Security forces have since launched a large-scale search operation across forests and border communities, working alongside vigilante groups to track the kidnappers’ movements.
Military high command has also ordered intensified efforts to locate the students and dismantle the network responsible for the attack.
The incident has reignited national concern about the vulnerability of schools in northern Nigeria and the recurring pattern of mass abductions.
Analysts and civic groups are calling for a transparent probe into the troop withdrawal, arguing that understanding the lapse is essential to preventing similar tragedies in the future.
Governor Idris urged residents to remain calm and cooperate with authorities, promising continuous updates as rescue operations progress.
He emphasised that the state government is determined to ensure the safe return of the girls and accountability for every decision that may have contributed to the breach.
