The Nigerian Military Defence Headquarters in Abuja has begun grilling all soldiers who withdrew from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, just before the attack that led to the kidnapping of 26 students.
The personnel were reportedly withdrawn from the school hours before terrorists attacked on November 17, killing the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, and taking the schoolgirls.
Recall Dockaysworld reported that the Kebbi state governor Nasir Idris had queried the withdrawal of the soldiers before the attack.
According to The Punch, a senior government official has confirmed that the troops drawn from the Zuru Army Barracks were summoned to Abuja earlier in the week as part of an ongoing investigation into who ordered their withdrawal.
The incident sparked public outrage, with Governor Idris demanding answers after a closed-door meeting with Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.
The governor said the state had earlier received intelligence that the school was at risk and had deployed security operatives accordingly.
“We need to know why they left. We had intelligence; we provided security, so what happened?” he asked.
The District Head of Maga, Muhammad Dantani, said the soldiers quietly left around 1am, despite earlier assurances they were still at their post.
With the military gone, police officers reportedly avoided confrontation due to the attackers’ numbers and firepower, allowing the terrorists to operate freely for nearly two hours.
The Kebbi schoolgirls have regained freedom with a viral video releasing shortly after wherein the terrorists accused the government of failing to rescue them until they negotiated with them.
A top military source said the probe is active and “anyone found culpable will be brought to book.” Other officials also confirmed the summon but declined to give details.
