President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately move to Kebbi State following the abduction of schoolgirls earlier in the week.
The order comes after armed bandits attacked a school on Monday, killing a staff member, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, injuring a security guard, and kidnapping 25 students. Two of the abducted girls later escaped on Tuesday, while security agencies continue operations to rescue the remaining victims.
In a statement released on Thursday, the presidency said Matawalle was asked to relocate to Kebbi “to monitor and coordinate ongoing security efforts aimed at securing the release of the abducted students.” The president noted that Matawalle gained considerable experience in handling banditry and mass kidnappings during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State.
The minister is expected to arrive in the state on Friday.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu also cancelled his scheduled visits to South Africa and Angola on Wednesday, citing the Kebbi abduction and another attack on a church in Eruku, Kwara State.
The Kwara incident occurred just two days after the Kebbi attack. Gunmen invaded the CAC Oke Isegun church in Eruku, a border town with Kogi State, robbing worshippers and injuring three people, including a vigilante. Police have not yet confirmed the number of victims abducted or killed.
