Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has raised serious concerns over what he described as the “withdrawal of military personnel” from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, shortly before bandits attacked the school and abducted several students.

Governor Idris made the revelation on Friday in Birnin Kebbi while receiving Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero, who visited the state to commiserate with him following the attack.

The governor said the development was particularly troubling because the state had earlier received intelligence reports warning of a possible assault. According to him, the government immediately convened a security meeting to address the threat.

“As a responsive government, when we received intelligence on a possible attack, we summoned a security meeting,” the governor said, as quoted by NAN.

“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 state government has demanded a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal.

“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.

The governor assured that both the state and federal governments were 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,” he said.

He thanked President Bola Tinubu for directing Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit the state and for instructing the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate temporarily to Kebbi.

Idris added that clerics across the state had been asked to intensify prayers, saying the country was facing forces working “against this government.”

“We return to God and continue to pray for divine intervention,” he said.

He also described Ajaero’s visit as a strong show of solidarity during a difficult time, saying, “You left your schedules to visit us, and we appreciate it. We assure you that we will do everything humanly possible to rescue our daughters and bring them home safely.”

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Tinubu Orders Defence Minister to Relocate to Kebbi

President Bola Tinubu had earlier directed Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State following the abduction of 24 schoolgirls from the school in Maga, Danko Wasagu Local Government Area.

The directive was contained in a statement released on Thursday by Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said Matawalle is expected to remain in the state until significant progress is made toward rescuing the abducted students.

Matawalle, who governed Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023, is widely remembered for his clashes with bandit groups, including the high-profile abduction of 279 female students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, in 2021. The victims, aged between 10 and 17, were released days later after tense negotiations.