Nigeria: Defence headquarters summons soldiers over Kebbi schoolgirls abduction

By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has ordered the immediate relocation to Abuja of all soldiers who were on duty at the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, on the night 26 schoolgirls were abducted. The move is part of an investigation to determine who ordered the withdrawal of the troops shortly before the attack.

Witnesses say the soldiers left the school premises around 1 a.m., just minutes before armed bandits arrived. The bandits, described as heavily armed, opened fire and the police on site reportedly took cover, judging that any resistance would have been suicidal. The attackers remained on the premises from about 1:30 a.m. to 3:30 a.m. without opposition.

Muhammad Dantani, the District Head of Maga, recounted that he called the military post at midnight and was assured the soldiers were still there. “Unknown to us, they left the school around 1 a.m., shortly before the attack began. We still do not know who gave the order or why they withdrew,” he said.

He added that when the bandits arrived, police officers on the scene said they took cover because the attackers were “far too numerous” and that opening fire would have meant certain death. The overwhelming firepower of the bandits left the police with little choice but to stay hidden.

Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris has praised the state government’s role in securing the release of the 24 remaining girls. The governor’s office said his intervention was central to the safe return of the pupils.

 Mohammed Badaru Abubakar assured the public that the Armed Forces are intensifying efforts to combat banditry across the country, despite the recent surge in school abductions.

The abduction has drawn comparisons to the 2014 Chibok kidnapping, reviving painful memories nationwide. Prominent Nigerians, including the governor and civil‑society groups, have called for a thorough probe into the circumstances surrounding the soldiers’ withdrawal and the subsequent lack of resistance.

The DHQ has confirmed that the soldiers involved have been moved to Abuja for questioning. The investigation aims to establish the chain of command that led to the withdrawal and to determine whether any orders were issued that compromised the security of the school.

The outcome of the inquiry is expected to inform future security protocols for schools in vulnerable regions and to address concerns over the coordination between the military and police in responding to terrorist threats.