President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State following the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Maga town. The directive was announced in a statement issued by the Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who explained that the minister is to remain in the state and oversee all security operations aimed at rescuing the missing students.
The students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, were taken by gunmen around 4am on Monday. One of the girls managed to escape shortly after the incident, while 24 others remain in captivity. The President has cancelled his planned journey to Johannesburg and Luanda to receive continuous security updates on both the Kebbi abduction and the attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.
The Presidency noted that Matawalle is expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday to coordinate the rescue effort. As a former governor of Zamfara State, he is believed to have prior experience in confronting banditry and large-scale kidnappings. During his governorship, hundreds of schoolgirls abducted in Jangebe in 2021 were eventually freed.
Kebbi South Senator Garba Maidoki has expressed optimism that the students will be recovered soon, saying the abductors are still within the senatorial district and that efforts are underway to locate them. Vice President Kashim Shettima has also visited the affected community and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to securing the girls’ release.
