Tag: Matawalle

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has deployed the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to Kebbi State to coordinate efforts to rescue 25 schoolgirls abducted earlier this week. The girls were kidnapped around 4 a.m. on Monday from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Sakaba Local Government Area. Matawalle, former governor of neighbouring Zamfara State, is expected to arrive in Birnin Kebbi on Friday to oversee the rescue operations and provide direct updates to the President. A statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Matawalle’s appointment draws on his experience managing banditry and kidnappings during his tenure as governor between 2019 and 2023. Notably, he supervised the response to the February 2021 abduction of 279 girls from Government Girls Science Secondary School, Jangebe, all of whom were released after several days of negotiations and security pressure. President Tinubu had postponed trips to Johannesburg for the G20 Summit and Luanda for the AU-EU Summit to remain in Nigeria and receive briefings on the Kebbi abductions and Tuesday’s deadly attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State. The President expressed concern over the recent surge in attacks on schools and religious institutions, ordering heightened security across vulnerable areas. Matawalle’s deployment underscores the administration’s determination to treat the crisis as a national emergency, with direct, high-level coordination. Security forces have intensified operations in forests along Kebbi, Zamfara, and Niger states, responding to an increase in kidnappings and attacks targeting schools for ransom in the Northwest and North-Central regions.