Security Expert Sadeeq Shehu Calls for Probe into Troop Withdrawal Before Kebbi Abduction

Security expert Group Captain Sadeeq Shehu (Rtd.) has said that Kebbi State Governor Nasir Idris’ allegation that soldiers withdrew from the Maga area shortly before bandits abducted schoolgirls is “too serious to ignore” and must be thoroughly investigated.

Speaking to ARISE News on Friday, Shehu noted that the incident at Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, exposed a major breakdown in Nigeria’s Safe School programme.

According to Shehu, the governor’s claim that troops stationed near the school were moved less than an hour before the attack “cannot be dismissed with a press statement.” DAILY POST previously reported that the governor alleged soldiers attached to the school were withdrawn around 3:00 a.m., with the attackers striking less than 45 minutes later.

“If he has made such a damning statement, it must be followed through. Detection worked this time, early warning was received, but if soldiers were withdrawn minutes before the attack, it is something that must be investigated to the end,” Shehu said.

Shehu explained that school protection relies on five layers of security, starting with detection, and noted that intelligence on bandit movements had already been received prior to the raid. He criticized Nigeria’s failure to fully implement the Safe School Declaration, saying the initiative has largely remained ceremonial despite repeated abductions since the Chibok incident in 2014.

“We saw high-profile launches by the police and civil defence, but the truth is that these special units are not visible in the schools that need protection,” he said.

The retired officer also faulted federal and state authorities for their reactive approach to school security, warning that many rural schools remain exposed due to poor funding and weak oversight. He argued that shutting down remote schools contradicts the essence of the Safe School policy, stressing that education is too important to suspend.

Shehu urged security agencies to use the latest incident to uncover long-standing issues of sabotage and systemic failures.

“For 15 years, we have heard conspiracy theories that never led anywhere. But this time, a sitting governor has made a clear allegation. If this is followed to its logical end, we may finally understand the roots of these failures,” he said, stressing that Nigeria cannot afford another decade of repeated tragedies. He called for a full and transparent investigation to restore public confidence.