Abuja, Nigeria — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State following the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in the early hours of Monday.
The directive was announced on Thursday in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Tinubu, Bayo Onanuga, signaling a heightened federal response to the worsening security situation in the North-West.
The Directive from the Presidency
According to the statement, President Tinubu instructed Matawalle to remain in Kebbi State “until further notice” to provide direct oversight, coordinate on-ground military operations, and ensure all efforts are mobilized toward securing the safe release of the abducted students. The decision underscores President Tinubu’s increasing emphasis on hands-on political and security accountability in areas affected by banditry and mass kidnappings.
Matawalle is expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, where he will immediately begin supervising the intensified search-and-rescue mission involving the military, police special units, local vigilante networks, and intelligence assets.
The Abduction in Maga Town
The latest kidnapping occurred around 4:00 a.m. on Monday, when gunmen invaded the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, a community in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State. Early reports indicated that 24 students were abducted, though subsequent security briefs corrected the figure to 25 following head-counts and family confirmations.
Residents described the attackers as heavily armed men who arrived on motorcycles, broke into the school dormitory, and forced the girls away into the surrounding forests before security operatives could repel the assault.
The attack is the latest in a series of school-targeted kidnappings that continue to trouble the northern region of our nation.
Why Matawalle Was Chosen
Bello Matawalle’s deployment to Kebbi appears driven by his experience in handling large-scale abductions during his tenure as Governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023, a period during which the state was one of the epicenters of banditry in Nigeria.
A particularly notable incident during his governorship tenure was the February 26, 2021 abduction of 279 female students, aged 10 to 17 from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe. The mass kidnapping drew national and global attention.
Remarkably, all the abducted girls were released six days later, on March 2, 2021, following coordinated negotiations and security operations.
This background appears to have informed President Tinubu’s confidence in Matawalle’s ability to coordinate an effective response in Kebbi.
Tinubu Postpones International Engagements
In a further demonstration of the gravity with which the government views the situation, President Tinubu has postponed his scheduled diplomatic trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola.
The presidency confirmed that Tinubu is awaiting “more comprehensive security briefings” not only on the Kebbi school abductions but also on the deadly attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State, which occurred earlier in the week.
State House sources suggest the president is determined to ensure full inter-agency alignment before leaving the country, especially given the recent escalation of violence across multiple states.
Heightened Security Measures
Following Tinubu’s Directive:
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The Defence Headquarters has activated emergency rapid-response protocols in Kebbi and neighbouring states.
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Surveillance drones have reportedly been deployed to monitor suspected bandit routes in the forests between Kebbi, Zamfara, and Niger States.
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Local hunters and vigilante groups are working with security agents to map out possible hideouts used by the abductors.
Senior military officials say the search area is vast but confidence is high that the abductors will be located.
Growing Public Pressure
The abduction has generated a surge of public outrage, with parents, civil society groups, and education advocates demanding swift action. Many have drawn comparisons to earlier high-profile kidnappings, including Chibok (2014), Dapchi (2018), and Jangebe (2021) — events that shook Nigeria and drew international condemnation.
Analysts warn that repeated attacks on schools threaten not only national security but also progress on girls’ education and the stability of rural communities.
Conclusion
President Tinubu’s decision to deploy the Minister of State for Defence directly to Kebbi is a clear indication of the seriousness with which the administration views the abduction. With Matawalle’s experience and a national security apparatus now fully engaged, expectations are high that decisive action will be taken in the coming days.
For the affected families in Maga town, however, the immediate hope remains the safe return of their daughters — a goal the federal government insists it is determined to fulfill.