Governor Nasiru Idris
Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has accused security operatives of abandoning their posts barely an hour before terrorists invaded Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga—an attack that resulted in the abduction of 24 students.
Speaking during a sympathy visit by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero, Governor Idris questioned why soldiers deployed to protect the school withdrew at 3 a.m., only for the attackers to strike at 3:45 a.m. He described the situation as deeply troubling, especially as the state had earlier received credible intelligence about an imminent attack.
According to Idris, the government immediately convened a security meeting after receiving the alert, and security agencies initially assured him that adequate personnel would be stationed at the school. However, he said he was shocked to learn that troops pulled out shortly before the bandits arrived.
“The military was deployed, but they later withdrew by 3 a.m., and by 3:45 a.m. the incident happened,” he said, demanding a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal. “Who authorised the military to withdraw? How did security personnel pull out at such a critical time?”
The governor added that both the state and federal governments were working tirelessly to ensure the safe return of the abducted girls, acknowledging President Bola Tinubu’s swift directive for Vice-President Kashim Shettima and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi. He also urged clerics to intensify prayers, saying the situation suggested that “enemies are working against this government.”
Earlier, Ajaero described the abduction as a deliberate attempt to derail the state’s recent developmental strides. He insisted that the incident was “more than coincidence” and pledged NLC support toward improving school and border security across Nigeria.
Later, during a visit to the school in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, Governor Idris went further, accusing security operatives of ignoring specific alerts from the State Security Services (SSS). He labeled the incident “clear sabotage,” revealing that the State Security Council had ordered round-the-clock protection following the intelligence report. A teacher corroborated this, saying security personnel spent the night at the school but inexplicably departed shortly before dawn. “About 30 minutes after they withdrew, the kidnappers struck,” the teacher said.
The attack itself unfolded around 4 a.m. Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the premises on motorcycles, scaling the fence and engaging the police in a gun duel. The Vice Principal, Mr. Makuku, was shot dead while trying to protect his students. His wife, Amina Hassan, gave a heart-rending account of the invasion, describing how terrorists dragged her from her home and attempted to use her daughter to locate the students before eventually sparing the girl.
By Tuesday morning, the school principal confirmed that one abducted student had escaped, leaving 24 still in captivity.
The attack quickly provoked national outrage. At the Senate on Tuesday, lawmakers observed a minute’s silence for the slain Vice Principal and demanded accountability. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi described the abduction as “a slap in the face,” insisting that a nation unable to secure its children is failing in its most basic duty. The Senate resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the effectiveness of the Safe School Initiative while postponing plenary to allow senators to attend zonal security summits.
Meanwhile, in Abuja, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu met with the wives of Service Chiefs, describing the attack as “reprehensible” while praising the sacrifices of security personnel. She pledged support for widows and families of fallen soldiers, striking a tone that contrasted sharply with Idris’ allegations of negligence and sabotage.
Security agencies, facing public pressure, moved quickly. Chief of Army Staff Waidi Shaibu visited the attack site and ordered troops to launch intelligence-led, round-the-clock pursuit operations, declaring that “success is not optional.” Police spokesperson Nafi’u Abubakar Kotarkoshi also confirmed that tactical teams had been deployed to block escape routes toward Zamfara and Sokoto—hotspots for bandit factions.
Despite these assurances, palpable anger lingers in Maga. Residents, many still haunted by the 2021 Birnin Yauri school abduction, say they are tired of promises. Some parents recalled how they were forced to raise ransom money themselves during previous kidnappings, only for many children to be held for years.
Civil society organisations have joined the chorus of criticism. Gender Educators Initiative (GEI) Executive Lead Shafa’atu Suleiman stressed the need to revamp school safety frameworks, highlighting the unique vulnerability of girls in conflict-prone regions. International security analysts also pointed to the thriving kidnap-for-ransom economy as a key driver of repeated attacks.
As investigations begin and rescue missions intensify, the unanswered question continues to hang over Kebbi: why did security forces leave—minutes before the terrorists arrived?
