President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately move to Kebbi State following the abduction of 25 schoolgirls.
According to the Presidency, Matawalle is expected to stay in Kebbi to coordinate and supervise security operations aimed at ensuring the safe return of the students. The minister, a former governor of Zamfara State, is scheduled to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.
In a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency said:
> “President Tinubu has instructed the Minister of State for Defence to move to Kebbi State without delay and oversee all ongoing efforts to safely bring back the abducted schoolgirls.”
The abduction occurred early Monday morning at Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Sakaba Local Government Area, where gunmen kidnapped 24 students from their hostel.
The statement highlighted that Matawalle’s experience handling banditry and mass kidnappings in Zamfara, including the February 2021 abduction of 279 students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, was a key factor in his deployment to Kebbi.
President Tinubu expressed deep concern over the recent surge in violent attacks, including the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno and the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi. On X, he described the incidents as “heartbreaking” and vowed that those responsible would face justice.
He emphasized the importance of urgent, decisive action by security agencies and called on communities to support operations by providing timely information.
> “Those who threaten the safety of our citizens will face the full weight of the Nigerian state,” the President declared.
As a result of these security breaches, Tinubu has postponed his planned trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the G20 Summit, and Luanda, Angola, for the 7th AU-EU Summit, pending updates from Vice President Kashim Shettima and reports from security agencies.
The Presidency continues to monitor the situation closely, coordinating efforts to ensure the safe return of the abducted students and restore stability in affected communities.
