Birnin kebbi: The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, has arrived at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi following a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately relocate to the state over the abduction of 24 schoolgirls.
According to Voice of Nigeria, a statement issued by the Personal Assistant on Media to the Minister of State for Defence, Ahmad Dan Wudil, indicated that the Minister will remain on ground to oversee security operations and coordinate efforts aimed at ensuring the swift rescue of the abducted students.
The President’s directive underscores the Nigerian Government’s commitment to securing the safe return of the students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga town and to enhance security coordination across affected communities.
The abduction took place around 4:00 a.m. local time on Monday.
Minister Matawalle, who served as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023, previously managed significant security incidents, including the February 2021 kidnapping of 279 students in Jangebe who were later released.
President Tinubu also postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg and Luanda to receive further security briefings both on the Kebbi incident and the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.