Sabotage Claim Sparks Probe as Kidnapped Student Return
By Onibiyo Segun
(Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State) – “The timing raises serious questions. Who authorized the military to withdraw? How did security personnel pull out at such a critical time?” Governor Mohammed Nasir Idris demanded as outrage deepened over the abduction of 25 Maga schoolgirls.
Governor Idris alleges clear sabotage, insisting the Department of State Services (DSS) had supplied actionable intelligence warning of a possible attack. He said security chiefs assured him that troops would secure the school, yet soldiers deployed for protection were mysteriously withdrawn around 3 a.m., barely an hour before terrorists stormed the school at 3:45 a.m. The governor now wants answers on who ordered the withdrawal and why?
According to Idris, he convened a security meeting following the DSS warning, and military protection was promised. But on the night of the attack, the troops reportedly vanished. By dawn, the girls were gone.
The Defence Headquarters announced a review of troop movements and the chain of command responsible for the withdrawal, saying any redeployment would have stemmed from “operational intelligence assessments.”
Meanwhile, the state government has set up a special panel led by the DSS director to investigate whether the withdrawal was an error, negligence, or deliberate compromise.
In response to the backlash, Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Waidi Shaibu ordered intensified search operations. “We must find these children. Act decisively and professionally on all intelligence. Success is not optional,” he instructed, while confirming the army had launched a full internal probe.
Defense Analysts Weigh In
TruthNigeria consulted leading defense analysts who agree the allegations pierce the heart of Nigeria’s security failures.
Dr. Aisha Bello, retired military intelligence officer, said the timeline suggests more than routine lapses. “If the governor’s account is accurate, it may not simply be negligence but a failure of command discipline. With credible threats, troop deployments must be continuous. Withdrawing at that moment is both operationally and morally indefensible.”
Professor Umar Sidi of the University of Abuja warned the pattern fits possible internal sabotage. “When you see a withdrawal so close to an attack, you must ask not just about intelligence failure but potential complicity. Bandits benefit when vulnerable schools are left exposed.”
But Colonel (ret’d) Michael Eze cautioned against premature conclusions. He told TruthNigeria, “Intelligence missions sometimes go wrong without high-level complicity. It could be miscommunication or misjudgment. But accountability must follow.”
The Girls Return
On Tuesday, November 25, President Bola Tinubu welcomed the release of the girls and directed security agencies to intensify efforts to free others still held.
“I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for. Now we must put, as a matter of urgency, more boots on the ground in the vulnerable areas to avert further incidents of kidnapping,” Tinubu said.
Residents told TruthNigeria they heard the assault building long before dawn. Amina Garba, who lives near the school, said, “I was woken by distant gunshots shortly after 3 a.m. I heard shouting and the thump of motorcycles. By the time we reached the school yard, the gate was already breached.”
Bala Magaji, a local trader, confirmed seeing soldiers earlier that night. “Soldiers were here the night before. They even spoke with students. But before dawn they disappeared. Then the worst happened. We believed the troops were here to protect us. I don’t understand, they were warned, but they left.”
What This Means for Nigeria’s Fight Against Terrorism
Professor Sidi explained that the allegations strike at the core of Nigeria’s decade-long security dilemma: public trust.
“First, the possibility of complicity cannot be ignored. If elements of the military are enabling attacks through action or inaction, Nigeria’s counter-terrorism structure is compromised from within. They have already been rumors of government paying terrorists to release kidnapped victims. Like a ransom for freedom. Which spells doom.
“Second, such incidents shatter confidence. Parents send their daughters to school believing the state can protect them. A withdrawal hours before an attack reinforces a narrative of abandonment and worse, betrayal.
“Third, even if not deliberate, the incident reveals serious failures in command, intelligence handling, and operational discipline.” Prof Sidi said.
“I am particularly happy the girls made it back,” Dr. Bello added. “There is a rumor that ransom was paid. A very terrible precedent if you ask me. But we’ll, without genuine reform, this will happen again. And again.”
Gov. Idris’s accusation that soldiers withdrew from Maga minutes before the abduction is more than political friction, it is a test of Nigeria’s entire security architecture. The ongoing investigation must produce truth, accountability, and reform.
Until then, one question remains: Is Nigeria’s military protecting its citizens or leaving them exposed?
Onibiyo Segun reports on terrorism and conflicts for TruthNigeria.
