Kebbi State is once again grappling with a deeply troubling security incident following the abduction of 25 female students from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School (GGCSS) in Maga, Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area. The incident, which occurred around 3:45 a.m. on Friday, has prompted immediate high-level responses from both the state and federal governments.

Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris swiftly met with the Minister of State for Defence, Muhammad Bello Matawalle, who visited Birnin-Kebbi alongside senior military officials. Governor Idris reiterated his administration’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with the military to ensure the safe and prompt return of the abducted students. He lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive action in directing Minister Matawalle and top security personnel to the state to oversee the rescue operations. A critical detail emerged from the governor's remarks: soldiers assigned to the school reportedly withdrew at approximately 3:00 a.m., just 45 minutes before the abduction took place. Governor Idris has called for a comprehensive military inquiry to ascertain who authorized this troop withdrawal, emphasizing the need to prevent such security lapses in the future.

Responding to the crisis, Minister of State for Defence Muhammad Bello Matawalle confirmed that top military commanders, including the Theatre Commander of Operation Fansan Yamma, Brigadier General Idris Warra, have been deployed to Kebbi. He assured the public that troops have been strategically stationed across Kebbi, Zamfara, and Niger States to effectively block potential escape routes and accelerate the rescue mission for the abducted girls. The minister appealed to local residents to maintain calm and provide full cooperation to the security agencies, stressing that community support is vital for the successful return of the students.

Meanwhile, the Minority Caucus in the House of Representatives has vociferously urged the Federal Government to take immediate and decisive action for the release of the students. In a statement issued on Friday, prominent members including Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, Minority Whip Ali Isa, Aliyu Madaki, and George Ozodinobi, characterized the attack as “tragic and deeply concerning,” highlighting that the students were specifically targeted by armed groups. The caucus drew a stark parallel to a similar incident on June 17, 2021, when approximately 80 students and five teachers were attacked at the Federal Government College, Birnin Yauri, also in Kebbi. They warned that these recurrent attacks are severely undermining the education sector, causing significant disruption to families, and destabilizing communities across the nation.

The lawmakers specifically called upon the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies to coordinate their efforts seamlessly to ensure the safe release of the girls and to bring the perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. Furthermore, the statement raised profound alarms regarding the escalating security situation throughout Nigeria, pointing to recent violent incidents in various states such as Kwara, Zamfara, Kogi, Kano, Benue, and Plateau. The Minority Caucus also indicated their intention to explore legislative measures aimed at strengthening the national response to the pervasive and rising insecurity impacting the country.