As Kebbi Girls Return Home, Army Vows to Investigate and Punish Those Who Withdrew Troops Before Attack

By Yinka Giwa
The schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State have regained their freedom, a senior official in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) confirmed to KTH Daily Tuesday.

According to the source, the rescue was achieved through a “carefully coordinated non-kinetic operation”—a blend of negotiation, intelligence-led engagement, and other peaceful tools rather than an armed military assault. The ONSA official said the strategy involved multiple security and intelligence agencies working in sync, adding that the priority was securing the girls’ safe return without triggering further harm.

Their release comes as a huge relief to families, Kebbi residents, and Nigerians nationwide, who had expressed outrage after the Nov. 17 abduction of the 25 students. The incident sparked a massive federal search-and-rescue mobilisation and renewed concerns about security lapses in vulnerable rural communities.

But even as celebrations begin, the Nigerian Army is tightening its scrutiny of what happened before the kidnapping, particularly the alleged withdrawal of soldiers from the Maga community shortly before the attack.

A credible military source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that a full-scale investigation is already underway to determine who authorised the troop pullout and whether due operational procedures were followed. The probe follows a direct demand for answers by Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris.

The source described the matter as one the Army leadership views “with utmost seriousness,” stressing that any personnel—no matter their rank—found negligent or complicit will face disciplinary and legal sanctions.

“If any officer or soldier is found culpable in the unauthorised withdrawal or any act of negligence, appropriate actions will be taken,” the source said.

He added that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has restated the Army’s commitment to professionalism, accountability, and uncompromising protection of Nigerian communities, especially schools in high-risk locations.

The Army urged the public to remain calm and allow the investigation to run its full course, promising that the findings will be made public.

As the freed Kebbi girls reunite with their families, security agencies say their next focus is preventing a repeat of such attacks—by tightening deployments, strengthening inter-agency coordination, and restoring public confidence in the safety of schools across the country.