President Tinubu Deploys Matawalle to Kebbi for Schoolgirls’ Rescue as APC Governors Visit

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State to coordinate security operations for the rescue of schoolgirls abducted earlier this week.

According to Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Matawalle, a former Zamfara State governor, was asked to remain in Kebbi to oversee efforts to secure the release of the kidnapped students.

The abduction occurred early Monday at Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, where gunmen reportedly killed a security guard and abducted at least 24 girls. The Kebbi State government said the attackers arrived around 4:00 a.m., firing sporadically before taking the students into the bush.

A Presidency official told reporters that Matawalle will lead on-the-ground coordination with the military, police, and other security agencies deployed in the area. His experience handling mass kidnappings in Zamfara between 2019 and 2023 is expected to guide the rescue efforts.

President Tinubu has postponed scheduled trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, to receive continuous updates on the situation. The latest abduction adds to a series of attacks on schools in northern Nigeria since the 2014 Chibok kidnapping.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) under the All Progressives Congress visited Kebbi Governor Dr. Nasir Idris on Thursday to express solidarity over the incident. PGF Chairman and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma described the abduction as “shocking and deeply inhumane,” pledging full support for federal and state security agencies.

Governor Idris welcomed the visit, acknowledging the trauma the attack has caused families and the state, but expressed confidence in ongoing rescue operations. Vice President Kashim Shettima had earlier visited the state to convey President Tinubu’s message of hope and commitment to securing the girls’ release.

Some parents reported sightings of the girls in nearby forests, though the state police command and government advisers have not confirmed such information. No ransom demands have been received.

The Maga community has planned a special prayer session on Friday, calling for divine intervention for the safe return of the abducted students. The District Head, Muhammad Dantani, said the community remains deeply shaken and sees prayer as a vital response.

The attack reportedly occurred shortly after security personnel stationed at the school were withdrawn, a development that may have exposed vulnerabilities exploited by the attackers. Residents of Maga have been holding nightly gatherings to support affected families and urge swift action by authorities.