Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has urged the Nigerian military to adopt a more effective strategy in combating insecurity across the country.
The governor made the call on Monday while receiving the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who led a delegation to the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.
Governor Idris reiterated his demand for an investigation into the withdrawal of military personnel from the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, shortly before bandits abducted 25 schoolgirls.
“How can over 500 bandits ride freely on motorcycles along our highways without being intercepted?” he queried. “We are fulfilling our obligations to the security agencies. We have provided logistics and purchased over 100 vehicles for them, yet the security architecture is not working.”
He added that had the state known security operatives would withdraw, “we wouldn’t have listened to their advice to deploy personnel. We would have simply shut down the school.”
The governor warned that saboteurs might be undermining both the state and federal governments. “Yesterday it was Kebbi, today it is Niger and Kwara. Who knows where next? We must all work together to address this lingering insecurity,” he said.
In his remarks, Speaker Abbas said the delegation was in the state to commiserate with the people of Kebbi over the abduction and the killing of the school’s vice principal and a watchman.
He announced a donation of N30 million to the families of the deceased and urged the governor to rename the school in honour of the late vice principal for his bravery.
“We are with you, and we will continue to explore ways to ensure the safe return of the girls,” the Speaker assured.
