A northern advocacy coalition praised President Bola Tinubu’s swift directive to the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi following the abduction of 25 school children. The coalition said this order changed the urgency of the situation and led to a positive outcome.
The Northern Security and Civic Protection Forum (NSCPF), in a statement signed by its president, Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Ma’aruf, stated that the rescue of 24 abducted school children on November 25—after being kidnapped on November 17—demonstrates the success possible when the armed forces have strong political support.
The NSCPF commended the government and the Nigerian armed forces, noting that the handling of this incident showed a departure from Nigeria’s past slow and reactive security posture. The group highlighted that the government showed speed, seriousness, and strategic clarity, resulting in the successful recovery of the victims within days.
Al-Ma’aruf stated that Tinubu’s directive for Matawalle to immediately relocate and assume personal oversight “galvanised multiple layers of security response.” He added that the four consecutive days of intense air and ground pressure by the military forced the kidnappers to abandon the girls, calling the action “a statement of authority.”
The coalition urged the Federal Government to sustain the offensive against terrorist groups to ensure long-term security in communities across Kebbi, Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, and Kaduna. Finally, the NSCPF called for trauma support and reintegration programs for the rescued schoolgirls.
About The Author
