Ensure Rescue Of Abducted Schoolgirls; Tinubu Orders Matawalle To Relocate To Kebbi
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State following the abduction of 24 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area.
The directive was disclosed on Thursday in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said Matawalle is expected to remain in the state until significant progress is made in efforts to rescue the abducted students.
Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, is due to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday.
His tenure in Zamfara between 2019 and 2023 was marked by frequent confrontations with bandit groups, including the high-profile abduction of 279 female students of Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, in 2021.
The girls, aged between 10 and 17, were released days later after tense negotiations.
The statement read, “President Bola Tinubu has asked the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State over the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in the state.
“Matawalle, who was formerly governor of Zamfara State, was asked to remain in the state to monitor security efforts to secure the release of the abducted students.
“Gunmen abducted 24 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State, around 4am on Monday.
“Matawalle, who is expected to arrive in Birni-Kebbi on Friday, gained some experience in dealing with banditry and mass kidnapping during his tenure as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023.
“On 26 February 2021, armed bandits abducted 279 female students aged between 10 and 17 at the Government Girls Science Secondary School, a boarding school in Jangebe, in Zamfara State. The bandits released all the hostages on 2 March 2021.
“President Tinubu had postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, as he awaited further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State,” Onanuga added.
The presidential directive came a day after SaharaReporters exclusively reported that a former senior aide to Matawalle accused the minister of continuing to maintain direct contact with notorious terrorist commanders whom he allegedly funded, equipped, and politically mobilised during his time as governor.
The “mobilisation” had included providing “36 brand new Hilux vehicles” and buying stolen livestock from bandit groups.
