Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has raised serious concerns over the withdrawal of military personnel from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, just moments before armed bandits abducted several students.
Speaking in Birnin Kebbi on Friday while hosting the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Joe Ajaero, who visited to commiserate with the state, Idris described the development as “deeply troubling.”
The governor revealed that his administration had earlier received intelligence about a potential attack and immediately convened a high-level security meeting.
“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,” he said.
According to him, troops were indeed stationed at the school but mysteriously withdrew around 3 a.m. “By 3:45 a.m., the incident happened,” he lamented.
Idris said the state government has demanded a full-scale investigation to determine why security operatives deserted their posts shortly before the abduction.
“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 stressed.
The governor assured that both the state and federal governments are working tirelessly to ensure the safe rescue and return of the abducted schoolgirls.
