Gov. Idris faults security agencies after attack on girls’ school despite DSS warning
Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Nasir Idris, has condemned what he described as a failure to act on solid intelligence that could have prevented Monday’s deadly attack and mass abduction at the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.
The governor, visibly distressed during a visit to the school on Monday evening, said a report from the Department of State Services (DSS) had warned of an imminent attack and advised the government to convene an emergency Security Council meeting.
According to him, “The council met and resolved to provide 24-hour security for the students—a plan he said was not executed as agreed.
“This is clear sabotage. We received credible intelligence from the DSS that this school was likely to be attacked.
”The DSS further advised that we convene an emergency Security Council meeting, which we did. The decision was that we would provide round-the-clock protection for the students, ” he said.
He also added that he took the DSS alert seriously, recalling how a similar failure to respond to warnings contributed to the December 2020 abduction of over 300 students in Kankara, Katsina State.
The Monday attack reportedly claimed the life of the vice-principal and resulted in the abduction of 25 female students, three of whom later escaped.
A teacher who fled the scene expressed disbelief, noting that armed personnel had been deployed to the school on Sunday and had even conducted emergency drills with students and staff.
“The heavily armed security personnel spent the entire night guarding the school.
”Sadly, for reasons yet to be determined, they reportedly left the school before dawn.
”About 30 minutes after they withdrew, the kidnappers struck,” the teacher recounted.
Governor Idris echoed the account during his visit, alleging that security personnel abandoned their posts shortly before the incident.
He said the situation raised serious questions about internal sabotage and prompted the state government to take immediate action.
The governor announced the formation of a special investigation panel to determine how the attackers were able to strike despite advance warning and purported deployments.
The panel will also oversee efforts to secure the safe return of the kidnapped students.
The investigation will be led by the State Director of the DSS, a decision the governor said stemmed from the agency’s accuracy and credibility in supplying intelligence on the threat.
A top security source disclosed that authorities believe the abducted girls are alive and that coordinated operations by state and federal agencies are underway to rescue them.
“The good news is that there is sufficient reason to believe that the girls were kidnapped, not killed.
“With ongoing efforts by the federal and state governments, we are hopeful that they will all be rescued, ” the source said.
As the state grapples with grief, anger, and unanswered questions, the incident has reignited public debate over the responsiveness and accountability of Nigeria’s security architecture.
Gov. Idris of Kebbi State
