Swift Military Action Secures Freedom for Abducted Students
A northern advocacy organization has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Defence Minister of State Bello Matawalle, and Nigerian military forces for their rapid and strategic operation that led to the rescue of 24 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.
The Northern Security and Civic Protection Forum (NSCPF) issued a statement on Tuesday, November 25, through its president, Dr Abdulrahman Al-Ma'aruf, praising the government's serious approach and clear strategy that resulted in the speedy release of the students.
Timeline of the Kidnapping and Rescue
The terrifying ordeal began on November 17 when armed kidnappers stormed the school hostels and seized the students. After nine days in captivity, the girls regained their freedom on November 25 when their captors abandoned them under intense military pressure.
Dr Al-Ma'aruf emphasized that President Tinubu's decision to dispatch Minister Matawalle to Kebbi significantly altered the pace and urgency of the rescue mission. The minister's presence, combined with his extensive knowledge of the region from his previous role as Zamfara state governor, proved instrumental in coordinating multiple security agencies to track down the abductors.
Coordinated Security Operation Crushes Bandits
The NSCPF described the successful rescue as a marked departure from the typically slow responses witnessed in previous kidnapping cases across northern Nigeria. The group stressed that when adequately supported, the military can effectively confront criminal elements terrorizing communities.
"From the moment President Tinubu ordered the minister of state for defence to move to Kebbi and assume personal oversight of operations, the tempo changed," the statement declared.
It continued: "His Excellency, Bello Matawalle, arrived with a clear mandate and deep personal knowledge of the terrain, having confronted similar security challenges during his years as governor of Zamfara. What followed was an intense, closely coordinated multi-agency assault that left the bandits with no safe corridor to escape with the girls."
The military's sustained bombardments over several days created overwhelming pressure that the kidnappers could not withstand, ultimately forcing them to abandon their captives.
Call for Continued Security Measures and Support
The northern group also applauded President Tinubu for demonstrating that attacks on educational institutions and children will not be tolerated. They urged the federal government to maintain robust security operations across Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, and Kaduna states while calling for ongoing protection for vulnerable communities.
Additionally, the NSCPF reminded authorities about the crucial need to provide psychological counseling and reintegration programs for the rescued girls to help them recover from their traumatic experience and safely return to their families.
"With this rescue, the government has restored hope. Now it must consolidate by ensuring no child in northern Nigeria ever has to face such terror again," the statement concluded, highlighting the broader significance of the successful operation for regional security and child protection.
