DHQ summons soldiers over sudden withdrawal from Kebbi school before Abduction

The Defence Headquarters has reportedly invited and questioned soldiers earlier deployed to the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State, following the abduction of 26 students by terrorists.

A senior government source familiar with the development told *Punch* that military authorities have opened an investigation into why the troops were pulled out shortly before the attack.

The incident occurred on November 17 when armed men invaded the school, killed the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, and abducted 26 schoolgirls. Two of the victims later escaped, leaving 24 still in captivity inside the forest.

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State, reacting to the tragedy, demanded a full probe into the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of security personnel posted to protect the school.

Speaking in Jos after a closed-door engagement with the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, the governor revealed that the state had earlier issued credible intelligence reports indicating a likely assault on the school. He wondered why soldiers deployed based on those warnings were withdrawn just before the gunmen struck.

According to the senior government official, Kebbi authorities are awaiting the outcome of the military inquiry to determine who approved the pullout of troops from the school premises.

He said, “The military personnel who were stationed at the school have been summoned to Abuja for interrogation. They were summoned by the Defence Headquarters on Monday. We are following the case.”

The official noted that the affected soldiers were drawn from the Army Barracks in Zuru.

A separate security source also confirmed the summons, saying, “I don’t have all the details, but I learnt on Monday from colleagues in the army that the soldiers have reported to the headquarters.

All the security heads are happy with what happened in Kebbi and Niger. Neither the soldiers nor the police did well. But the investigation is ongoing.”

A senior military officer, who requested anonymity, said the probe was active, adding, “The military hierarchy is investigating the matter, and everyone attached to the school will be asked one or two questions to determine what went wrong. Anyone found culpable will definitely be brought to book.”

Another military source stated, “It’s not unlikely that the troops have been summoned in connection with the incident, but the matter is still under probe.”