President Bola Tinubu Directs Minister of State for Defence to Relocate to Kebbi State in Response to Abduction of 25 Schoolgirls

President Bola Tinubu Directs Minister of State for Defence to Relocate to Kebbi State in Response to Abduction of 25 Schoolgirls

In a strong demonstration of federal resolve to combat the resurgence of banditry and mass abductions in northern Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has directed the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State and remain there until the 25 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Sakaba Local Government Area are safely rescued and the security situation in the state is brought under sustainable control.

The presidential directive was conveyed in an official statement issued on Thursday, November 20, 2025, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga. The statement, which has been widely circulated through official government channels and verified by multiple national media outlets, reads in part:

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State over the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in the state. The Minister is expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, November 21, 2025, and remain in the state to coordinate the efforts of all security agencies towards securing the release of the abducted students.”

Details of the Abduction

According to Punch Newspaper, the incident occurred in the early hours of Monday, November 17, 2025, when heavily armed bandits stormed the school premises in Maga town, Sakaba LGA. According to police reports and eyewitness accounts, the attackers scaled the school fence, overpowered the limited security personnel on duty, and abducted 25 female students after firing sporadic shots to instill fear. Two students reportedly escaped during the chaos, while one additional case was later confirmed, bringing the total number of abducted girls to 25.

The Kebbi State Police Command, in coordination with the Nigerian Army’s 1 Brigade and other security agencies, has since launched intensive search-and-rescue operations across the dense forest areas straddling Kebbi, Niger, and Zamfara states, a region notorious for serving as a hideout for bandit groups.

Strategic Significance of the Presidential Directive

The decision to deploy a senior cabinet member directly to the theatre of operations represents a marked departure from previous responses that relied primarily on remote coordination from Abuja. Dr. Matawalle, who served as Executive Governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023, brings considerable experience in managing large-scale banditry and kidnapping crises in the North-West geo-political zone. During his tenure in Zamfara, he oversaw the successful release of hundreds of kidnapped victims, including the 279 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, in February 2021.

Security analysts have described the President’s order as both symbolic and substantive, signaling zero tolerance for attacks on educational institutions and a commitment to decisive, on-the-ground leadership in crisis management. (Premium Times)

Ongoing Security Operations

Following the presidential directive, the following measures have been activated:

•  Reinforcement of ground troops from the 8 Division, Nigerian Army, Sokoto

•  Continuous aerial surveillance by the Nigerian Air Force

•  Establishment of a Joint Task Force comprising the Army, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

•  Engagement of traditional rulers, community leaders, and repentant bandits to open possible negotiation channels where necessary

•  Heightened intelligence-sharing among federal and state agencies

Broader National Security Context

The abduction in Kebbi State is the latest in a series of mass kidnappings that have plagued northern Nigeria over the past decade. Notable previous incidents include:

•  Chibok, Borno State (April 2014) – 276 schoolgirls

•  Dapchi, Yobe State (February 2018) – 110 schoolgirls

•  Jangebe, Zamfara State (February 2021) – 279 schoolgirls

•  Kagara, Niger State (February 2021) – 27 students and staff

•  Afaka, Kaduna State (March 2021) – 39 students

According to data from SBM Intelligence and the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), more than 1,800 persons were abducted in mass incidents across Nigeria between January and October 2025 alone, with educational institutions remaining prime targets due to their high propaganda value and perceived vulnerability.

Official Reactions and Next Steps

Kebbi State Governor, Senator Nasir Idris, has welcomed the President’s intervention and pledged full cooperation with the federal task force. In a statewide broadcast, the governor described the attack as “an assault on the future of our children” and assured citizens that every resource would be deployed to ensure the safe return of the students.

Civil society organisations, education advocacy groups, and international partners, including UNICEF and the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA), have condemned the abduction and called for swift action.

READ MORE ON : Bandits Kill Vice Principal, Abduct 25 Girls in Kebbi School Attack

Conclusion

As Dr. Bello Matawalle prepares to assume direct command of rescue operations in Birnin Kebbi, the nation awaits positive developments. President Tinubu has made it unequivocally clear that the safe return of the 25 schoolgirls is a non-negotiable national priority.

The Presidency has assured Nigerians that regular updates will be provided through official channels as the situation evolves.