Tag: Kebbi State

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24 abducted Kebbi schoolgirls regain freedom

The twenty-four schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, have been rescued.

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this in a statement issued on Tuesday.

He said the President commended the security agencies for their efforts in securing the freedom of the victims and called on them to intensify operations to rescue students who are still in captivity.

“I am relieved that all the 24 girls have been accounted for. Now, we must urgently deploy more boots on the ground in vulnerable areas to prevent further kidnappings. My government will provide all necessary support to achieve this,” the statement quoted the President as saying.

PUNCH Online had reported that bandits stormed the school hostel last Monday, abducting 24 female students.

Following the attack, Tinubu ordered the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi to coordinate rescue efforts, commended security agencies for the series of releases but warned that the job was not yet done.

In the days that followed, gunmen struck a Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting 38 worshippers during a vigil, while another gang raided St. Mary’s Catholic School in Papiri, Agwara LGA of Niger State, seizing over 300 pupils and teachers, according to the police and the Catholic Diocese of Kontagora.

The attacks sparked national outrage and renewed calls for stronger protection of schools in rural areas, especially in the North-West, where banditry remains widespread. (Punch)

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Shettima arrives in Kebbi over schoolgirls abduction

The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has arrived in Kebbi State to meet with the state government and families of schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, by gunmen.

The aircraft conveying the Shettima landed at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi.

He was accompanied by the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, and other government officials.

The VP had departed Abuja for Kebbi on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He is expected to convey Tinubu’s message to the people of the state, as well as receive a briefing on the situation for onward communication to the President.

The attack on the Kebbi school claimed the life of the school’s Vice Principal, Malam Hassan Makuku, who was reportedly killed while trying to prevent the bandits from taking the girls away.

The police said on Monday that a combined tactical team were deployed to comb the forest in a bid to rescue the girls.

President Bola Tinubu condemned the attack and commiserated with the families of those affected.

He also postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg in South Africa and Luanda, Angola, to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders and the 7th AU-EU Summit, respectively. (Channels)

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Police confirm abduction in Kebbi girls’ school, begin rescue operation

Tension has engulfed the Maga community in Kebbi State after terrorists launched a deadly pre-dawn attack on the Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, reportedly abducting 25 students and killing a staff member.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar Kotarkoshi, the armed attackers, wielding sophisticated weapons, invaded the school at about 4:00 am and opened fire as they forced their way in.

“The police tactical units deployed in the school engaged them in a gun duel,” the PPRO said. “Unfortunately, the suspected bandits had already scaled through the fence of the school and abducted twenty-five students from their hostel to an unknown destination.”

He confirmed that one staff member, Hassan Makuku, was shot dead, while another, Ali Shehu, sustained a gunshot injury to his right hand.

Following the attack, Abubakar said the command swiftly deployed additional police tactical squads alongside military personnel and local vigilantes to track the movement of the terrorists and rescue the abducted girls.

“They are currently combing the bandits’ routes and nearby forests with a view to rescuing the abducted students and possibly arresting the perpetrators of the dastardly act,” he said.

He added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Bello M. Sani, had reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

“The Commissioner reiterates the Command’s unwavering determination to safeguard the people of Kebbi State,” Abubakar stated. “He appeals to the public to remain calm, vigilant, and continue supporting police operations to maintain peace and stability.”

Also confirming the incident, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ahmed Idris, said the state government was closely monitoring developments.

“The exact number of abducted students is still being verified,” Idris told our correspondent.

“The deputy governor, Senator Umar Tafida, has been dispatched to the school to assess the situation on behalf of Governor Nasir Idris, who is currently out of the state.”

He assured residents that the government was working hand-in-hand with security agencies to secure the safe return of the students and restore normalcy to the community.

Parents and residents of Maga remain in anguish as they await further updates on the fate of the abducted girls.

In June 2021, bandits abducted some students of Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri, Kebbi State.

Seven months later in January 2022, the gunmen freed 30 students and a teacher after months of captivity, according to a local official. (Punch)

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Police confirm release of kidnapped Kebbi Deputy Speaker

The Kebbi State Police Command has confirmed the release of the kidnapped Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Sama’ila Bagudo.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Nafiu Abubakar, said the lawmaker regained his freedom on Saturday, November 8, at about 8:00 pm, after being held in captivity for over a week.

Bagudo was abducted by gunmen on October 31, 2025, in the Bagudo Local Government Area of the state.

According to Abubakar, he has since been reunited with his family after receiving medical attention.

The Kebbi Commissioner of Police, Kotarkoshi, commended the combined efforts of security operatives who took part in the rescue operation, describing their conduct as courageous and professional.

“The command appreciates the courage, resilience and bravery of the combined team of security personnel deployed for the search and rescue operation, as well as the good people of Kebbi State who provided vital and accurate information that aided the safe return of the Honourable Member,” the statement read.

The state command reiterated its determination to sustain ongoing operations against banditry, kidnapping, and other violent crimes in the state. Residents were urged to remain calm, vigilant, and promptly report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest police station or other security agencies for immediate response.

Bagudo’s abduction had triggered widespread concern across Kebbi State, but his safe release has brought relief to his family, colleagues, and constituents. (Punch)

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Emir of Zuru’s passing significant loss, Tinubu mourns

President Bola Tinubu has condoled with the government and people of Kebbi State over the death of the Emir of Zuru, Major General Muhammadu Sani Sami (retd.), Gomo II.

The traditional ruler, who was also a former military governor of Bauchi State, passed away on Sunday.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President described the late emir’s death as a huge blow to the nation.

“The President described the death early today of the retired general and onetime military governor of Bauchi State as a significant loss for the country,” the statement read.

Tinubu noted that Nigeria would “long remember the late emir’s contributions as an administrator and revered traditional ruler.”

He recalled that as a young military officer, the emir also served Nigeria during the Civil War between 1967 and 1970.

Acknowledging the monarch’s impact in Kebbi, the President said the royal father provided “sterling leadership, which helped bring stability and development to the Zuru Emirate and Kebbi State.”

Tinubu prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the emir eternal rest and give his family and subjects the fortitude to bear the loss. (Punch)

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Supreme Court nullifies Jokolo’s reinstatement as Emir of Gwandu

The Supreme Court on Wednesday nullified the decision of the Kebbi State High Court that reinstated Al-Mustapha Jokolo as the 19th Emir of Gwandu, ruling that the case was filed without first exhausting the mandatory domestic resolution mechanisms prescribed by law.

In a split decision of three to two, the apex court held that the deposed Emir, Jokolo, failed to follow due legal process in instituting the suit.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Emmanuel Agim stated that while aggrieved persons may seek judicial intervention, they must first comply with Section 5(4) of the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, which requires a formal complaint to be submitted to the governor before litigation can proceed.

Jokolo was deposed in 2005 under controversial circumstances and subsequently approached the Kebbi State High Court seeking reinstatement.

The trial court ruled in his favour in 2014, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division, in 2016. Both courts ordered his reinstatement.

However, the Kebbi State Government and the current Emir, Alhaji Muhammadu Ilyasu-Bashar, challenged these rulings at the Supreme Court.

Originally scheduled for June 6, the Supreme Court brought forward the judgment to 4 June due to the Eid-el-Kabir holidays.

The Supreme Court held that Jokolo did not serve a pre-action notice on the Governor of Kebbi State, a mandatory step before initiating the suit.

Agreeing with the appellants, the Court ruled that failure to seek resolution through administrative channels rendered the suit incompetent.

This procedural lapse deprived the lower courts of jurisdiction, leading to the setting aside of the entire proceedings and judgments of both the trial court and the Court of Appeal.

Justice Agim remarked, “This suit was filed prematurely without first presenting a complaint to the governor as stipulated by law. The trial court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, and its decision is therefore null and void.

“Section 4(3) of the law applies to both appointment and deposition matters. The governor must first be notified.”

He further stated that the High Court judge “deprived the court of jurisdiction” by proceeding without adherence to this requirement.

The Supreme Court set aside the rulings of both lower courts and made no order as to costs.

In a dissenting minority judgment, Justice Ibrahim Salami dismissed the cross-appeals and affirmed the decisions of the lower courts, arguing that the executive governor must act in accordance with the law and due process.

The Supreme Court consolidated four appeals and two cross-appeals into a single judgment, with all parties agreeing that the outcome of the principal appeal would bind the others. (Punch)