Fresh details have emerged indicating that security operatives allegedly ignored credible intelligence from the Department of State Services (DSS) that could have prevented the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State.
Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Nasir Idris, who visited the school around 6:45 pm on Monday, openly condemned what he described as a deliberate failure by security agencies to act on the actionable intelligence.
Idris, during his visit, said, “This is clear sabotage. We got credible intelligence from the DSS that this school was likely to be attacked.
“DSS further advised that we convene an emergency Security Council meeting, which we did. And the decision was that we would provide round-the-clock protection for the students.”
Security sources told Leadership that the DSS had alerted the state government and relevant agencies about an imminent attack on the school.
Governor Idris reportedly took the intelligence seriously, recalling the December 2020 Kankara abduction of over 300 pupils in Katsina State, which occurred after warnings were ignored.
According to the governor, deployments were made to secure the school after Sunday’s emergency meeting. However, the armed operatives allegedly spent more time taking photographs with students and later abandoned the premises shortly before dawn.
A teacher who escaped the attack confirmed that armed personnel were present throughout the night but inexplicably left the school shortly before the assailants arrived.
“The heavily-armed security men spent the entire night guarding the school. Sadly, for yet-to-be determined reasons, they reportedly left before dawn. About 30 minutes after they withdrew, the kidnappers struck,” he said.
He added that the security agents had earlier taught staff and students emergency drills, making the sudden withdrawal even more shocking.
Governor Idris, accompanied by security chiefs, announced the inauguration of a special panel to investigate how the abduction occurred despite the DSS warning and state deployment.
The panel will be chaired by the DSS Director in Kebbi State and will also supervise the rescue efforts for the abducted students.
“I believe it was the accuracy and credibility of the intelligence supplied by the DSS on the school that made Governor Idris appoint their director to head the special committee,” the teacher added.
Although three students have managed to escape, 22 girls remain in captivity. Sources insist there is sufficient reason to believe that the girls were kidnapped, not killed, expressing optimism that combined federal and state operations will lead to their safe recovery.
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