Schoolgirls’ abduction: Tinubu orders defence minister’s relocation to Kebbi

President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State over the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in the state.‎

‎This is contained in a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday in Abuja.‎

‎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.‎

‎It will be recalled that gunmen abducted 24 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town, Kebbi State, around 4.00a.m 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 from 2019 to 2023.‎

‎On Feb. 26, 2021, 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 March 2, 2021.‎

‎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.