TENSION IN KEBBI: Matawalle Lands Under Presidential Orders, Leads Fierce Hunt for 25 Abducted Schoolgirls

In a dramatic escalation of the national response to the kidnapping crisis in Kebbi State, the Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammad Matawalle, arrived in Birnin Kebbi on Friday to personally take charge of the ongoing rescue operation for the 25 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga.

Matawalle’s deployment follows a decisive directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who on Thursday ordered the Defence Minister to immediately relocate to Kebbi and remain on ground until every abducted student is safely brought home. The President’s instructions underscore the gravity of the situation and the government’s determination to deliver swift justice.

Touching down at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport, Birnin Kebbi, Matawalle was received by top military commanders and state officials before heading straight into a high-level security briefing. His presence, according to sources within the security architecture, is expected to galvanize inter-agency coordination, strengthen tactical planning, and accelerate the pace of the rescue mission.

A statement issued by his media aide, Ahmad Dan-Wudil, confirmed that the minister is assuming direct supervision of all security activities linked to the operation. “Dr. Matawalle will personally oversee the deployment of troops, intelligence gathering, and strategic interventions to ensure the safe return of the abducted girls,” the statement read.

Tension remains high as security forces, backed by intelligence units, intensify the hunt for the abductors in remote forest corridors. Families and communities in Kebbi are holding their breath, hoping the minister’s boots-on-ground leadership will yield an urgent breakthrough.

The nation watches closely as one of the most sensitive rescue missions in recent months unfolds under the direct watch of the Defence Minister himself.