Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has raised serious concerns over the withdrawal of military personnel from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, shortly before bandits abducted several students.
Speaking in Birnin Kebbi on Friday while receiving Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero, who visited to commiserate with the state, Idris described the development as deeply troubling.
He said the state had earlier received intelligence about a possible attack and immediately convened a 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 the governor, troops were deployed initially but later withdrew around 3 a.m. “By 3:45 a.m., the incident happened,” he added.
Idris said the state government has demanded a full investigation into why the soldiers left their posts moments 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 said.
He assured that both the state and federal governments are working tirelessly to ensure the safe return of the abducted students.
