The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, on Friday arrived in Birnin Kebbi to spearhead the Federal Government’s response to the abduction of schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga.
Matawalle’s visit follows a direct order from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who instructed him to immediately relocate to Kebbi State and coordinate all security operations aimed at rescuing the missing students.
Upon arrival, the minister proceeded straight into a closed-door meeting with senior Army officers, police commanders, and heads of various federal security agencies. The high-level session, held away from the press, is focused on assessing intelligence reports, strengthening joint operations, and accelerating the ongoing search-and-rescue efforts.
Though Matawalle did not address journalists, security insiders described the meeting as a pivotal moment in the rescue mission. A senior security official, who requested anonymity, said the minister’s presence signals a shift into a more assertive operational phase.
“The Minister’s arrival means operations are entering a more aggressive phase. The directive from Abuja is clear — everything must be done to get those girls back safely. This meeting is about aligning all agencies and removing any bottlenecks,” the source said.
Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, welcomed the deployment of federal support, praising President Tinubu for acting swiftly in the wake of the attack.
In a statement from his office, the governor said:
“We appreciate the prompt response from the Federal Government. What happened in Maga is unacceptable. The state government will continue to work closely with security forces to ensure the safe return of our daughters.”
Meanwhile, tension remains high in Maga community, where parents and local leaders have continued to hold prayer sessions, urging authorities to expedite rescue efforts.
The attack occurred early Monday when armed bandits stormed the girls’ school, overwhelming local security personnel before abducting several students. In response, search operations have widened, covering forest corridors stretching from Kebbi into parts of Zamfara and Niger States, with a combination of aerial surveillance and ground troops tracking the kidnappers’ movement.