Major Security Crisis: Tinubu Orders Minister of Defence to Relocate to Kebbi Following Mass Abduction
In a decisive response to the surging wave of insecurity across Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State. The directive follows the mass abduction of 25 schoolgirls from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Sakaba Local Government Area, on Monday.
The President has postponed his scheduled international trip to South Africa and Angola to await crucial security briefings, emphasizing the severity of the crisis.
Table of Contents
Presidential Directive: Minister Relocates to Kebbi
The Kebbi Abduction: Details of the Attack
President Tinubu’s Response: Heartbreak and Vows of Justice
Why Matawalle? Experience and Expectations
International Trip Suspended Amid Crisis
1. Presidential Directive: Minister Relocates to Kebbi
President Tinubu instructed Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to proceed to Birnin Kebbi without delay to personally coordinate and monitor security operations aimed at the safe rescue of the abducted students.
In a statement, the Presidency stressed the urgency of the matter: “President Tinubu has instructed the Minister of State for Defence to move to Kebbi State without delay and oversee all ongoing efforts to safely bring back the abducted schoolgirls.” Matawalle is scheduled to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.
2. The Kebbi Abduction: Details of the Attack
The shocking incident occurred around 4 a.m. on Monday, when gunmen invaded the girls’ hostel at the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga. The attackers successfully abducted 24 students, plunging the community into despair.
The attack comes amid a troubling recent uptick in violent extremism and banditry across several states, including the fatal attack on Brigadier General Musa Uba in Borno State and a recent attack on worshippers in Kwara State.
3. President Tinubu’s Response: Heartbreak and Vows of Justice
President Tinubu publicly expressed his deep distress over the recent security breaches, stating he was “depressed” by the tragic death of soldiers in Borno and “heartbroken” by the abduction of the schoolgirls in Kebbi.
In a statement posted on X, he condemned the attack on the school, vowing that those responsible would face the “full weight of the Nigerian state.” He further acknowledged the crisis by ordering security agencies to respond with “urgency, clarity, and decisive action,” while urging communities to assist by sharing information that could save lives.
4. Why Matawalle? Experience and Expectations
The decision to dispatch Matawalle, the former Governor of Zamfara State, is strategic. The Presidency noted that his previous experience in handling similar security challenges, including high-profile banditry and mass abductions, was a factor.
During his tenure as Governor, Zamfara experienced the February 2021 abduction of 279 students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, who were later released. This background is expected to aid the coordination of the on-ground rescue effort in Kebbi.
5. International Trip Suspended Amid Crisis
Signaling the priority given to national security, President Tinubu postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, for the G20 Summit and subsequently to Luanda, Angola, for the AU-EU Summit.
The postponement was directly linked to the need for further security briefings on the Kebbi abduction and the attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State. The President is currently awaiting reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited Kebbi on his behalf, as well as crucial reports from the police and the Department of State Services regarding the Kwara attack.
Do you think dispatching a high-ranking minister to coordinate operations in the field is the most effective approach to ensure a swift rescue of the abducted schoolgirls?
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