Army Chief Blames Off-Duty Staff Sergeant for Kebbi Schoolgirl Kidnapping as Search Intensifies
Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, links the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State to a military staff sergeant who allegedly abandoned his post. He orders relentless, intelligence-driven operations to recover the girls.
In a sharp rebuke of military discipline, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Army Staff (COAS), has publicly blamed a staff sergeant for withdrawing troops from their assigned duty post at the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School (GGCSS), Maga, in Kebbi State - just hours before gunmen abducted 25 schoolgirls in a pre-dawn raid. The revelation raises serious concerns about security lapses in the military amid an intense rescue operation.
Shaibu Links Sergeant’s Absence to Kidnap Attack
During a high-profile operational visit to the crisis zone, General Shaibu sharply criticized the conduct of one of his officers. According to Shaibu, that staff sergeant was leading a detachment deployed specifically to guard the school, yet left his post without proper authorization shortly before the raid. The decision, Shaibu said, left the school effectively unprotected when the assailants struck. - Vanguard News
While Shaibu did not name the soldier in all media reports, he emphasized that abandoning a security assignment at such a critical moment constituted a grave dereliction of duty. - TheConclaveNg
Call for Night-and-Day Rescue Missions
In response to the abductions, Shaibu has ordered troops from Operation FANSAN YANMA to conduct intelligence-led, round-the-clock search operations throughout Kebbi and nearby forest zones. He described the mission as non-negotiable: “We must find these children. Act decisively and professionally on all intelligence. Success is not optional.” - Leadership News
During his visit, he reiterated the role of intelligence in countering attacks on “soft targets” such as schools, urging field commanders to be proactive and professional in pursuing leads. - TheCable
Alliance with Local Vigilantes and Hunters
Shaibu also met with local vigilantes and hunters, calling them indispensable in the rescue efforts. Because of their in-depth knowledge of the terrain, he said, they are vital partners who can help locate abductors more effectively: “Your hunters should storm the nooks and crannies of these forests. Soldiers will also join you. We are counting on you to bring lasting peace.”
He praised their courage and reaffirmed the military’s commitment to support and collaborate with local actors.
Kebbi Rescue Operation Underway
The abduction of the 25 female students followed a pre-dawn attack on 17 November 2025, during which gunmen allegedly scaled the school fence, exchanged fire with security personnel, and kidnapped boarders. The school’s vice-principal, Hassan Yakubu Makuku, was reported killed in the assault.
After the attack, security teams swept nearby forests - a common hideout for criminal groups in the area - while others deployed along key roads leading out of the school’s community. - Al Jazeera
Accountability Questions Raised Over Security Deployment
Shaibu’s comments suggest a troubling breakdown not only in the execution of military orders but also in discipline. Security analysts say that if a soldier left a post without command clearance, it may indicate deeper problems in the chain of command, intelligence coordination, or morale.
Some family members and community leaders - already skeptical of state security agencies - say the disclosure by the COAS may fuel suspicion that the attack was not just opportunistic, but potentially enabled by internal security failures.
Government Pressure Mounts
The abduction has sparked outrage across Kebbi State and nationally. President Bola Tinubu, alarmed by the scale of the operation, reportedly postponed a planned trip to join the G20 summit in South Africa to focus on the rescue mission. - AP News
Meanwhile, the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, traveled to Kebbi to meet with school officials, traditional rulers, and families of the abducted girls.
Civil Society Demands Reform & Answers
Civil society groups and human rights activists say Shaibu’s revelations underline the urgent need for reforms within the military and security architecture. Key demands include: Thorough investigation into the staff sergeant’s unauthorized departure and any other command failures, improved disciplinary mechanisms to hold errant soldiers accountable, expedited negotiations and rescue strategy combining military, intelligence, and community input, as well as long-term prevention policies for school security in vulnerable zones.
Activists warn that these kidnappings pose not just a security risk but a threat to education, especially for girls, if perceived as recurring or poorly addressed.
Risks and Future Implications
Impunity Risk: Without transparent follow-up, claims of internal dereliction may not be enough to bring systemic change.
Credibility Crisis: The military’s public admission of such a lapse may erode public trust in its capacity to protect vulnerable communities.
Escalation Danger: If abductors believe they can exploit security gaps, attacks on schools could increase.
Cooperation Pressure: Success in recovery may hinge on stronger collaboration with local communities and paramilitary actors like vigilantes.
What Comes Next
The Army Chief has made it clear that the rescue operation will continue “day and night” until all the girls are safely returned.
Military commanders on the ground are expected to deliver regular briefings on the status of intelligence and search efforts.
Local vigilante and hunter groups are reportedly coordinating with the army to expand their terrain coverage.
Families and communities are calling for a formal inquiry into operational decisions, especially around troop deployment and command accountability.
Conclusively, the revelation by Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu that a staff sergeant may have withdrawn security troops just before the Kebbi school abduction is deeply troubling. It brings to light not only the gravity of the ongoing kidnapping crisis but also potential security breakdowns within the Nigerian army. As the hunt for the abducted girls intensifies, all eyes are now on military leadership, local intelligence networks, and the willingness of the system to admit - and correct its failures.