Alleged troop withdrawal before abduction, Kebbi Gov asks national assembly to probe military

Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has called on the National Assembly to investigate the withdrawal of military personnel from the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko Wasagu Local Government Area, 45 minutes before the schoolchildren’s abduction.

The governor insisted the investigation should be carried out because the military authorities withdrew their personnel 45 minutes before bandits stormed, leading to the abduction of 25 schoolgirls on Monday, 17 November 2025.

Idris made this call while receiving a delegation from the National Assembly, led by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajjudeen Abbas, at Government House, Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

“The military personnel deployed to the school left at 3 a.m., and at exactly 3:45 a.m., the schoolgirls were abducted, but the reason for the personnel’s departure was based on orders. We raise questions as a government: who gave the order? What was the reason? Since the incident, we have been asking questions but have received no answers,” Idris said.

The Kebbi governor appealed to the National Assembly to summon the military leadership for questioning and to conduct a full investigation into the withdrawal of the soldiers.

“What happened in Kebbi shows the security architecture is not working. There is a need for the National Assembly to change the narrative and investigate the military. Security is not only a federal responsibility; states must also intervene with logistics support,” he said.

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The governor stated that the state had procured over 100 brand-new Toyota Hilux vehicles and 300 motorcycles for security agencies, including the military; yet, the incident raises doubts about their conduct.

“If care is not taken, enemies are working to truncate our democracy,” he warned, urging federal and state authorities to act decisively.

In response, Tajjudeen Abbas said, “And we are here to share in your pain and extend our condolences. Kebbi is one of the most stable states, but this incident is deeply saddening. The National Assembly stands with you, the parents of the abducted girls, and we commend the teacher who lost his life protecting the students.”

The Speaker announced a donation of N30 million to the families of the slain teacher and the school watchman, and requested that the school be named after the martyred teacher.

The statements were made amid growing public outcry over insecurity in Nigeria’s northwest region.

Other Nigerians, including security experts, have called on the Military High Command to investigate claims by the Governor of Kebbi State and punish offenders or prove him wrong.