The political atmosphere in Nigeria's North-West has grown increasingly tense following the abduction of 24 female students from Government Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State. The Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) now faces serious allegations of attempting to sabotage the ongoing rescue operation.
Political Accusations Fly Over Rescue Operation
The Kebbi APC Youth Forum has launched a strong condemnation against the opposition party, describing their recent comments as "heartless, wicked, and tantamount to giving comfort to terrorists." In a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi, the group's Chairman, Comrade Nasiru Maga, accused Governor Dauda Lawal and his media team of actively working to frustrate rescue efforts.
"While our daughters are spending another terrifying night in the bush, Governor Dauda Lawal and his media thugs are busy typing press releases to frustrate the rescue mission just because the man leading the operation is their political enemy," the statement read. The youth group emphasized that this behavior transcends ordinary politics, calling it "dancing on the blood of innocent children."
Historical Context and Failed Promises
The forum highlighted what they see as a pattern of political interference, alleging that Governor Lawal has repeatedly attempted to have President Bola Tinubu sack Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, due to "sheer jealousy and bitterness." They claim the latest press release from the PDP represents the governor's revenge for failing to remove the minister from his position.
The group also reminded the public of Governor Lawal's campaign promise to end banditry in Zamfara State within two months during his 2023 campaign. They lamented that two years later, the state has become what they describe as "the undisputed capital of kidnapping, mass murder and highway robbery in the North-West."
National Security Concerns and Demands
The Kebbi APC Youth Forum has taken a firm stance on the matter, asserting that criticizing a rescue operation ordered by the President and executed by security forces while schoolgirls remain in captivity constitutes a national security offence. They have made specific demands for action against those responsible for the controversial statements.
"We demand that Governor Dauda Lawal, his spokesman, and every PDP official who signed or endorsed that wicked statement be invited for questioning without delay," the statement declared. The group expressed confidence in Minister Matawalle's capabilities, describing him as "the same man who crushed bandits when he was governor of Zamfara."
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured families of the abducted schoolgirls that President Tinubu is deeply troubled by the tragic incident. Speaking in Kebbi State while acting on the President's directive, Shettima conveyed profound sympathy to the parents and state government, vowing that the Federal Government would use all instruments of state power to rescue the girls and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The Kebbi State government has released the names of all 25 abducted schoolgirls and clarified that all victims are Muslim, countering earlier claims by a US lawmaker that the abduction occurred in a Christian enclave. State officials have called for calm and cautioned against statements that could inflame religious tensions in the region.
