By: John Bassey, Kebbi.
The Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, has demanded a full military investigation into the abduction of 25 Schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area.
While suspecting crime involvement amongst personnel on duty, he queried their withdrawal from the school 45 minutes before the insurgents’ attack.
He made the call in Birnin Kebbi while receiving the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, on a solidarity visit. Idris said he was “deeply disappointed” that security personnel pulled out of the school despite earlier intelligence alerts issued by the state government.
According to Governor Nasir Idris, soldiers assigned to the area reportedly left at about 3:00 a.m., while the attackers struck barely 45 minutes later.
“We provided intelligence reports. We alerted them. So, who gave the orders for troops to withdraw at that critical hour?” Idris queried, calling for a full military investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The governor said the state had consistently raised security concerns, particularly in border communities vulnerable to bandit attacks. He noted that the withdrawal contradicted earlier assurances of enhanced protection for schools in the region.
Joe Ajaero, who led a delegation of the NLC, expressed solidarity with the state and the families of the abducted students, urging federal security agencies to ensure the girls’ safe rescue.
The abduction, which has drawn nationwide outrage, is the latest in a series of attacks targeting schools in Nigeria’s North-West, despite repeated government pledges to strengthen security around learning centres.
