Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Henry Owen
All military personnel posted to the Government Girls’ Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, where 26 students were kidnapped, are now being questioned at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. A senior government official told Saturday PUNCH that the military’s sudden withdrawal from the school just before the attack is part of an ongoing investigation.
On November 17, terrorists stormed the school, killing the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, and abducting 26 girls. Two of the girls later escaped, leaving 24 still in captivity.
The kidnapping caused widespread outrage. Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, called for an investigation into why the military withdrew from the school hours before the attack, especially since security agencies had received intelligence that the school was likely to be targeted.
The governor explained that security officials had warned that an attack might happen and questioned why the soldiers left despite this information. The District Head of Maga, Muhammad Dantani, said the soldiers withdrew around 1 a.m. He noted that he confirmed with them at midnight that they were still on duty but left around 1 a.m., just before the terrorists arrived.
Dantani added that police officers at the scene decided not to engage the heavily armed bandits because their numbers and firepower were overwhelming. The police felt that fighting the terrorists would have been suicidal, which allowed the bandits to operate freely from approximately 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m.
The girls were released on Tuesday after negotiations by federal security agencies. Medical checks confirmed they were not sexually abused during their captivity.
The senior government official confirmed that the military personnel involved have been summoned to Abuja for interrogation, beginning on Monday. The soldiers came from the Army Barracks in Zuru, Kebbi State.
A security source said the military has reported to the Defence Headquarters, and investigations are ongoing to determine who ordered the withdrawal. Officials are examining what went wrong, and anyone found responsible will face appropriate sanctions.
Efforts to reach the Defence Media Operations chief, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone was unreachable.
The Kebbi State Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ahmed Idris, said he could not confirm the military’s summons but expects the military to act based on the investigation’s findings.
The girls were found in a forest near the border with Zamfara State, where security forces used surveillance and negotiations to secure their release. They engaged the bandits through communication and professional tactics, convincing them to free the girls peacefully.
A viral video showed a bandit leader among the girls claiming that their release was due to negotiations, emphasizing that the government did not rescue them but they were released voluntarily.
Parents of the rescued girls have vowed to send their children back to school despite the trauma. One parent, Mallam Ibrahim Naibi, said the incident strengthened his resolve to keep his children in school. Another parent, Abubakar Jibrin, said the community remains committed to education and will not be discouraged.
Alhaji Sani Jimri stressed that educating children is vital for a better future, and the community is dedicated to supporting their learning. A parent, Mallam Abubakar, recalled how his family suffered during the girls’ captivity, with no communication, describing the silence as torturous.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments