"Who Ordered Military Withdrawal 45 Minutes Before Maga School Attack?" - Kebbi Governor Raises Questions

By Umar Faruk

Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, Nigeria - November 21, 2025(Series news online) - Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has questioned the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of military personnel 45 minutes before bandits abducted 25 schoolgirls from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga.

The Governor made this revelation when he received a sympathy visit from leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.

"We had convened a security council meeting before the incident, but military men were withdrawn 45 minutes before the attack, raising questions about who ordered the withdrawal," Idris said.

He assured the delegation that the state and federal governments were doing everything possible to rescue the abducted girls, adding that an investigation had been launched to determine who gave the order for the military withdrawal.

"We have been receiving visitors since the incident happened, we received Vice President Kashim Shatima, Progressive Governors Forum led by their chairman, his Excellency Governor of Imo State Hope Uzodinma and his fellow colleagues, and now we are, receiving delegation of Nigeria Labour Congress and the Nigeria Union of Teachers led by president Mr. Joe Ajoero to commiserate with us as well as prayed for the success securing of the abducted schoolgirls," Idris said.

The Governor revealed that the government had convened a security council meeting before the incident, but military men were withdrawn 45 minutes before the attack, raising questions about who ordered the withdrawal.

"We have already asked the authority to investigate and found out who ordered the men to withdraw... The government of the state and federal government is doing everything humanly possible to ensure it secure this schoolgirls from the hands of bandits," Idris said.

NLC President, Joe Ajoero, who led the delegation, condemned the abduction, describing it as a "calculated attempt and distraction".

"We view it as a calculated attempt and distraction because Kebbi is one of the states that we can proudly say in some years to come we can enable to say this is what our own did... but let me make it categorically, that we stand in solidarity, we are also sharing the pain and as well we are in pain and mourning of this period of the moment," Ajoero said.

He urged security agencies to be proactive in preventing such incidents, adding that security issues should not be politicized.

"We didn't come here to protest that roads are not good, we didn't come here to protest that workers are not paid, but we are here to witness a distraction and there is a limit to the salvation of security, security issues should not be politicized should be clearly stated as security and emphasis most be on trying to be proactive on prevention," Ajoero said.