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Tinubu Orders Defence Minister Matawalle to Relocate To Kebbi After Abduction Of 24 Schoolgirls
Tinubu ordered Matawalle—former governor of Zamfara State—to remain in Kebbi and coordinate all security operations aimed at rescuing the abducted students.
Abuja, Nigeria– President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State following the abduction of 24 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Bagudo Local Government Area.
The directive was contained in a statement issued Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
Tinubu ordered Matawalle—former governor of Zamfara State—to remain in Kebbi and coordinate all security operations aimed at rescuing the abducted students.
Armed men stormed the school around 4 a.m. on Monday, whisking away 24 students in yet another incident underscoring the deteriorating security situation in Nigeria’s North-West.
Matawalle, who is expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, is no stranger to mass abductions.
As Zamfara governor between 2019 and 2023, he oversaw multiple security crises, including the February 26, 2021 abduction of 279 female students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe. The hostages were freed days later on March 2, 2021.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, to receive continuous security briefings on the Kebbi schoolgirls and the deadly attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.
The presidency said efforts are ongoing to ensure the safe return of the abducted students.
“On 26 February 2021, armed bandits abducted 279 female students aged between 10 and 17 at the Government Girls Science Secondary School, a boarding school in Jangebe, in Zamfara State. The bandits released all the hostages on 2 March 2021.
“President Tinubu had postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, as he awaited further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.”
