Minister Assures Of Rescuing Abducted Schoolgirls

By Kabir Dan-Katsina, Birnin Kebbi

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle has said the rescue team dispatched by both the federal and state governments are close to the door to rescue the 24 abducted students of GGCSS Maga in Danko/Wasagu Local Government area of Kebbi State.

Matawalle stated this on Friday during a courtesy call on Governor Nasir Idris at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.

The minister had informed the governor that he was given a marching order to relocate to Kebbi State and ensure the immediate release of the abducted students.

“Your Excellency the governor of Kebbi State, we want to inform you that after this courtesy call, we would move on to all places of the hideouts of criminals especially bandits in the forest to get rid of them and rescue our daughters safely,” Matawalle added.

According to him, security issues are paramount and as such we don’t want to say it all regarding our plans but, people of Kebbi State should not be in panic. As we arrived we will get rid of the perpetrators and rescue the abducted students.

Concerning the appeal by Governor Nasir Idris regarding negligence in the total withdrawal of military attached to GGCSS Maga which caused the invasion of the school by bandits and abducted students, Matawalle assured that those involved will be arrested and prosecuted by the Army so as to serve as deterrent.

Governor Nasir Idris, while responding, thanked the minister and his entourage for the visit and assured them of his administration’s readiness to provide all the necessary mobility to the rescue team in search of the abducted students.

Idris however, appealed to the minister to investigate why the military personnel attached to the GGCSS Maga were withdrawn and soon afterwards, the bandits stormed the school killed two people and kidnapped 25 students.