President Bola Tinubu has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Alhaji Bello Matawalle, to immediately relocate to Kebbi State following the abduction of 24 students from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga.

The students were kidnapped around 4 a.m. on Monday when armed gunmen invaded the school community.

According to a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Matawalle is expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday and remain in the state to coordinate and monitor rescue operations. Onanuga noted that the minister brings significant experience in handling banditry and mass abductions, having served as governor of Zamfara State between 2019 and 2023.

During Matawalle’s tenure as governor, Zamfara witnessed several banditry incidents, including the abduction of 279 female students from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, on 26 February 2021.

The victims, aged between 10 and 17, were released on 2 March 2021.

The Presidency also confirmed that President Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, as he awaits further security briefings on the Kebbi abductions and the recent attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.