President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed his planned trips to South Africa for the G20 Summit and Angola for the AU EU Summit as he awaits further security briefings on the worsening situations in Kebbi and Kwara States.
The presidency confirmed that the decision was taken after receiving reports on the kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi and the deadly attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara.
The schoolgirls were abducted from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, in an attack that also claimed the life of the vice principal of the school. According to reports from the presidency, the president described the incident as disturbing and urged security agencies to do everything possible to bring the girls back safely. The president said he would not proceed with foreign engagements until he receives full updates on ongoing rescue operations.
In Kwara State, gunmen attacked Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, leading to the death of several worshippers and the abduction of others. Reacting to this, President Tinubu directed the military and police authorities to immediately deploy additional personnel to Ekiti Local Government Area and surrounding communities. He also ordered security operatives to intensify efforts to track down the attackers and restore peace in the region.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited Kebbi on behalf of the president, described the abduction of the schoolgirls as a national tragedy. He assured the affected families that the federal government was fully committed to rescuing the students and providing support to communities affected by bandit activities. Shettima praised the efforts of security agencies and encouraged them to sustain pressure on criminal groups.
President Tinubu said he was deeply saddened by recent violence across the country and called for improved coordination among security formations. He emphasized that national security must remain the top priority of government and assured Nigerians that the ongoing operations would continue until normalcy is restored. He also directed all relevant agencies to submit detailed field reports on the Kebbi and Kwara incidents.
The presidency noted that the postponed trips would be rescheduled once the president is satisfied with the progress of security interventions. The government reiterated its commitment to protecting schools, places of worship, and all vulnerable communities across the country.
