President Bola Tinubu has ordered the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, to relocate immediately to Kebbi State amid the ongoing hunt for schoolgirls kidnapped from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga.
In a statement issued by Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Matawalle is to remain in Kebbi to directly oversee and coordinate security operations aimed at securing the safe return of the girls.
The abduction occurred early Monday, when gunmen attacked the school around 4 a.m. and seized dozens of students. During the raid, at least one staff member was killed, heightening the urgency of the rescue efforts.
Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, is seen as well-suited for the mission given his previous experience handling mass kidnappings and banditry during his tenure. Security experts have expressed confidence that his leadership could be pivotal in bringing the abducted students back safely.
In addition to deploying Matawalle, the presidency has postponed Tinubu’s planned trips abroad — including diplomatic engagements in Johannesburg and Luanda — to allow him to closely monitor developments and receive detailed security briefings.
