Abduction: Defence headquarters grills soldiers in Abuja

All soldiers assigned to Government Girls’ Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in the Danko/Wasagu area of Kebbi State—where 26 students were recently abducted—are now being questioned at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja.

According to a report by Punch,  a senior government source confirmed that the DHQ had opened an inquiry into why the troops deployed to the school reportedly pulled out shortly before terrorists struck.

The gunmen invaded the school on November 17, killed the Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, and abducted 26 girls. Two of the students later escaped, leaving 24 still held at the time.

The incident drew widespread criticism and led Governor Nasir Idris to call for a full investigation into the military’s withdrawal.Following a closed-door meeting with the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, the governor disclosed that the state previously received intelligence warning that the school could be targeted.

He explained that security personnel were deployed based on the intelligence and questioned the timing of their removal.“We need to know why they left. We had intelligence; we provided security, so what happened?” he asked.

The District Head of Maga, Muhammad Dantani, also said the troops departed the school around 1am.He recounted, “Around midnight, I called to confirm whether the soldiers were still at their post and was told they were. But unknown to us, they left the school around 1am, just shortly before the attack began. We still don’t know who gave the order or why they withdrew.”

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He added that police officers on the ground avoided confrontation because the attackers overwhelmingly outnumbered them.“With the army absent, the police felt engaging the bandits would be suicidal,” he explained, noting that the attackers operated unchecked for two hours.

The schoolgirls eventually regained their freedom on Tuesday after the Federal Government negotiated their release, and the Kebbi State Government later announced that medical checks showed none of the girls had been sexually abused.

A senior official said the state government was awaiting the findings of the military’s investigation.“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,” he noted, adding that the affected troops were from the Zuru barracks.

A reliable security contact familiar with developments confirmed that the personnel had already reported to the DHQ.“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… investigation is ongoing,” he said.

Another top military officer, who asked not to be identified, said, “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.”

Attempts to reach the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Michael Onoja, were unsuccessful.

The Chief Press Secretary to the state governor, Ahmed Idris, said he had no confirmation of the summon, stating, “The investigation is being handled by the Defence Headquarters, so we don’t know anything about it. However, we want to know the outcome, and we expect the military to take necessary action.”

It was gathered that an initial rescue attempt by the military failed, prompting negotiations.A top source revealed, “The girls were released at the border between Gusau (Zamfara State) and Kebbi State… The security operatives had located the forest where the girls were being held.”

He disclosed that surveillance and heavy deployment restricted the bandits’ movements.“They engaged the bandits in communication and other professional methods… Yes, there was negotiation,” he confirmed.

A viral video also circulated showing a bandit leader saying the girls regained freedom through negotiations, telling them, “Your release was secured through peaceful negotiations.”

(PUNCH)