Governor Nasir Idris has called for an immediate investigation into the sudden withdrawal of troops from Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, less than 45 minutes before armed bandits abducted 25 students on November 17.

Speaking during a solidarity visit by Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President Joe Ajaero, Idris disclosed that soldiers vacated the school around 3:00 a.m. despite repeated intelligence alerts from the state government warning of imminent threats. “We provided intelligence reports. We alerted them. So, who gave the order for troops to withdraw at that critical hour?” the governor asked, describing the timing as “deeply troubling.”

Idris noted that the pull-out contradicted assurances from security chiefs that schools in vulnerable border communities would receive reinforced protection. One abducted girl managed to escape on November 19, while the remaining 24 are still being held. No ransom demand has been made public.

The incident, coming just days before the November 21 raid on a Catholic school in Niger State where dozens were abducted, has intensified national outrage and raised questions about military deployment strategies in the North-West.