President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to move to Kebbi State to oversee security operations aimed at rescuing the 24 schoolgirls abducted earlier in the week.
The schoolgirls were kidnapped around 4 a.m. on Monday from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, a community in Sakaba Local Government Area of the state.
Matawalle, a former governor of neighbouring Zamfara State, is expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi today and remain there while coordinating rescue efforts and delivering direct briefings to President Tinubu.
According to a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Matawalle’s deployment draws on his past experience confronting banditry and mass abductions during his tenure as governor between 2019 and 2023.
One of the most significant attacks during his administration occurred on February 26, 2021, when 279 female students were abducted from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe.
All victims were released on March 2, 2021.
President Tinubu had earlier shelved his scheduled trip to Johannesburg for the G20 Summit and to Luanda for the AU-EU Summit.
He remained in the country to receive additional security briefings on the Kebbi abductions and the violent attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, on Tuesday.
The President, according to an earlier statement, is alarmed by the renewed attacks on schools and religious institutions and has ordered intensified operations across vulnerable communities.
Also, Kwara State Governor Abdulraman AbdulRazaq has disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deployed over 900 troops to the state.
The deployment followed the attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area.
The governor made this known in Ilorin, the state capital, during a joint meeting with members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and residents of the Eruku community.
AbdulRazaq said: “Our government has put in place different security arrangements to put schools and places of worship in the Southern part under elevated surveillance for maximum safety.
“There is also a strong mobilisation of members of the Nigerian Army into Eruku. With the intervention of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over 900 additional troops have been sent to Kwara State.
“During the visit in Ilorin, I reassured my guests that our government will not leave any stone unturned to return total calm in Eruku. I also hailed the leadership of CAN for their response to the attack and their prayers.
“On the Eruku road, it is an important national infrastructure. Very soon, the contractor will start fixing it. We will also continue to advocate to the Federal Government to dualise the Ilorin-Kaba road because of its strategic economic important to the North Central region.
“Today, I hosted a combined delegation of Eruku community in Ekiti Local Government Area and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on a courtesy visit to Ahmadu Bello House, following the recent unconscionable attack on the community, especially members of the Christ Apostolic Church.”
“Yesterday, I led a delegation that included the Commissioner of Police, Ojo Adekimi, State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), and officials of our government to Eruku to condole with the people of the community on the unfortunate incident.
“I’m equally saddened at the report of an attack on rice farmers in Bokungi area of Edu Local Government Area. I wholly condemn these attacks. May God repose the souls of our compatriots that died in the incidents. I also pray that their families find the fortitude to bear the loss.
“In Eruku, I addressed the community at the palace of the Owa of Eruku, Oba Busari Olarewaju, and again right inside the church where the attack happened.”
Also, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) yesterday condemned the abduction of 25 students of the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Kebbi State, as well as the violent assault and kidnapping of Christian worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.
In a statement by the agency’s Deputy Director of Communication & Media, Mr. Paul Odenyi, the NOA said the attacks undermine ongoing national efforts to improve access to education, especially for the girl-child.
Also, the Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, has called for a complete overhaul of the country’s security architecture to improve intelligence gathering, logistics and collaboration with non-state actors.
In a personal statement, the NILDS boss urged strong and strategic measures to curb the rising cases of banditry and kidnapping nationwide.
He condemned the attack on Christian worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, describing it as “one attack too many”.
Also, a former Minister of Information and National Orientation, Lai Mohammed, yesterday denounced the attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
In his statement, Mohammed said: “It is with deep sorrow that I received the heartbreaking news of the brutal attack on the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State – an attack that claimed precious lives and left an entire community shaken to its core.
“This gruesome assault on innocent worshippers is not only a tragedy for the bereaved families but a painful wound on the entire country. I am devastated by this senseless loss of life. My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have been thrown into mourning, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to them in this moment of immeasurable grief.”
Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to temporarily relocate the seat of power to Kebbi State and other conflict zones across the country.
The party’s newly elected National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, made the call in a statement in Abuja.
The PDP argued that such a move would encourage security agencies to intensify efforts in tackling the rising insecurity.
The statement said: “As President and Commander-in-Chief, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must not recline in the comfort of the Presidential Villa at a time when 25 schoolgirls have been abducted and their whereabouts remain unknown. He must demonstrate leadership by leading from the front, as true leaders do in moments of grave national challenge…”
