The Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, has called on military authorities to explain the sudden withdrawal of troops from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, just minutes before the abduction of students and staff.
Idris expressed deep concern that security personnel left the school despite prior intelligence alerts provided by the state government. He made the remarks while receiving Nigeria Labour Congress President, Joe Ajaero, who led a solidarity visit to Kebbi.
According to the governor, soldiers reportedly left the school around 3:00 a.m., and the attackers struck less than 45 minutes later.
“As a responsive government, when we received intelligence on a possible attack, we summoned a security meeting. The security agencies assured us that all was well and that personnel would be mobilised to the school. The military was deployed, but they later withdrew by 3 a.m., and by 3:45 a.m., the incident happened,” Idris said.
The governor added that the state has demanded a full investigation into why the troops were pulled out.
“Who authorised the military to withdraw? How did security personnel pull out at such a critical time? That is our concern. We have asked the military to investigate and identify who gave that order,” he said.
Idris also noted that the withdrawal contradicted earlier promises of enhanced protection for schools in vulnerable border communities frequently targeted by bandits.
He assured that both the state and federal governments are working tirelessly to secure the release of the abducted schoolgirls.
“Our duty as leaders is to ensure that our daughters return home safely, and we are doing everything possible to achieve that,” the governor said.
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