Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State
Nigerians have again been thrown into another round of mourning and frustration following the recent abduction of female students from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Kebbi State. However, beyond the usual condemnations, this latest tragedy has sparked deeper outrage, mainly as news emerged that the military allegedly ignored credible intelligence warnings days before the attack.
The early-morning abduction on Monday adds to the growing list of school kidnappings in northern Nigeria. However, what truly shocked many Nigerians was Governor Nasir Idris’ blunt accusation that the incident amounted to “clear sabotage.” According to him, the Department of State Services had warned that the school was a likely target and advised an emergency security meeting. The state complied, and even approved 24-hour protection for the students.
The governor’s testimony aligns with comments from Senator Garba Maidoki and a teacher who survived the attack. Maidoki explained that although an army checkpoint sits just five kilometres from the school, the soldiers there were simply too few to withstand the hundreds of attackers who rode in on motorcycles. “If you have 25 soldiers and 300 bandits, that is suicide,” he said.
The teacher added a more heartbreaking detail: heavily armed security personnel had guarded the school all night and even conducted drills for students. Nevertheless, mysteriously, they withdrew shortly before dawn, and the attackers struck within 30 minutes.
This painful pattern is not new. Whether it is the abduction of girls in Chibok years ago, the Yelewata massacre in Benue, or the Kankara school abductions in Katsina, intelligence warnings have repeatedly gone unheeded.
Retired Commissioner of Police, Lawrence Alobi, said such failures raise serious questions about sincerity, competence, and even possible infiltration of the security system.
Former AIG Wilson Inalegwu added that Nigeria’s security architecture continues to falter because agencies do not coordinate effectively. He stressed the need for stronger early-warning systems, joint intelligence processing, and seamless collaboration between land and air forces.
The Defence Headquarters has meanwhile promised a full review of troop deployment at the school. Maj Gen Michael Onoja said any lapses discovered would be addressed immediately.
For now, Nigerians hope the kidnapped girls will be rescued safely. However, the bigger question remains: How many more tragedies will it take before intelligence is finally treated as a life-saving tool, not an optional memo?
Leave feedback about this