“Who Ordered Military Withdrawal 45 Minutes Before School Attack?” Kebbi State Governor Raises Alarm Over Withdrawal of Soldiers Minutes Before Kidnappers Struck, As NLC and NUT Demand Answers in Visit to Birnin Kebbi

Kebbi State was thrown into deeper concern on Friday as Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris raised disturbing questions over the sudden withdrawal of military personnel just minutes before bandits invaded Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, abducting 25 schoolgirls.

The governor made the revelation while receiving leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) during a sympathy visit at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi. The incident, which has drawn nationwide condemnation, has intensified scrutiny on the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Governor Idris disclosed that, “We had convened a security council meeting before the incident, but military men were withdrawn 45 minutes before the attack, raising questions about who ordered the withdrawal.”

He described the development as highly suspicious and said the state government, in collaboration with federal authorities, was already probing the matter.

He assured the labour delegation that every necessary effort was being deployed to secure the release of the abducted girls, stressing that both the state and federal governments were fully committed to recovering the victims.

According to him, “We have been receiving visitors since the incident happened, we received Vice President Kashim Shatima, Progressive Governors Forum led by their chairman, his Excellency Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma and his fellow colleagues, and now we are receiving delegation of Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Teachers led by president, Mr. Joe Ajaero, to commiserate with us as well as prayed for the successful securing of the abducted schoolgirls.”

Reiterating the unsettling timing of the withdrawal, Idris added that government had demanded a thorough investigation: “We have already asked the authorities to investigate and find out who ordered the men to withdraw…

“The government of the state and federal government are doing everything humanly possible to ensure it secure this schoolgirls from the hands of bandits.”

In his remarks, NLC President Joe Ajaero condemned the abduction in strong terms, describing it as a deliberate act meant to destabilize the state.

He said, “We view it as a calculated attempt and distraction because Kebbi is one of the states that we can proudly say in some years to come, we can be able to say this is what our own did… but let me make it categorically, that we stand in solidarity, we are also sharing the pain and as well we are in pain and mourning of this period of the moment.”

Ajaero called on security agencies to step up their operations and prioritize preventive measures, warning against politicizing national security issues.

In his words, “We didn’t come here to protest that roads are not good, we didn’t come here to protest that workers are not paid, but we are here to witness a distraction and there is a limit to the salvation of security, security issues should not be politicised, it should be clearly stated as security and emphasis must be on trying to be proactive on prevention.”

The visit by NLC and NUT leaders adds to the growing pressure on security authorities to provide answers on the mysterious military withdrawal and to ensure the swift rescue of the abducted schoolgirls. The people of Kebbi and Nigerians at large now await the outcome of the investigation that Governor Idris has insisted must be carried out with urgency and transparency.