President Bola Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trip to South Africa for the G20 Leaders’ Summit as he awaits further security briefings from Vice President Kashim Shettima on the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.
Tinubu also ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area, directing the police to hunt down the bandits responsible for the attack. The directive followed a request by the Kwara State governor, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Presidency officials told our correspondent that Tinubu intends to receive first-hand updates on the situations in Kebbi and Kwara including outcomes of meetings with local leaders before embarking on any foreign trip.
The President had been scheduled to depart Abuja today for the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa and subsequently proceed to Luanda for the 7th AU-EU Summit.
“Disturbed by the security breaches in Kebbi State and Monday’s attack on worshippers in Eruku, President Tinubu decided to suspend his departure,” Onanuga explained. “He now awaits reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited Kebbi on his behalf, as well as reports from the police and the Department of State Services regarding the incident in Kwara.”
Tinubu reiterated his directive to security agencies to “do everything possible to rescue the 24 schoolgirls abducted by the bandits and bring them back home safely.”
On Tuesday night, Tinubu instructed Vice President Shettima to travel to Kebbi State following the abduction of 25 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area, and the killing of the school’s Vice Principal.
The President, who had earlier been briefed by military authorities, expressed sadness over the incident, noting that the attack occurred despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike.
The Zuru Emirate was thrown into panic on Monday following the assault on the school, during which gunmen killed the Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, who reportedly died while attempting to protect the students. The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that 25 students were abducted during the attack.
Tinubu also condoled with the Nigerian military over the deaths of soldiers and Brigadier General Musa Uba, who were killed while fighting insurgents in Borno State.
