President Bola Tinubu has delayed his scheduled visit to South Africa for the G20 Leaders’ Summit as he awaits detailed security briefings from Vice President Kashim Shettima regarding the recent kidnapping of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and an attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.
A statement on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Tinubu has also ordered additional security personnel “to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of the state, and directed the police to go after the bandits who attacked worshippers.” The directive, Onanuga noted, was made “in response to the request by the governor of Kwara State.”
Officials close to the President told our correspondent that Tinubu wants first-hand updates on the Kebbi situation, including outcomes from meetings with local leaders, before embarking on his international engagements. He was originally scheduled to leave Abuja for the 20th G20 Summit in South Africa and subsequently attend the 7th AU-EU Summit in Luanda.
“Disturbed by the security breaches in Kebbi State and Monday’s attack by bandits against worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, President Tinubu decided to suspend his departure,” Onanuga said. He added that the President “now awaits reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who paid a sympathy visit to Kebbi on his behalf, as well as reports from the police and the Department of State Services regarding the attack in Kwara.”
Tinubu reiterated his instructions to security agencies to “do everything possible to rescue the 24 schoolgirls, abducted by the bandits and bring the girls back home, safe.”
On Tuesday night, the President directed Shettima to visit Kebbi State on Wednesday to assess the abduction of 25 students from Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, and the killing of the school’s Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, who reportedly tried to shield the students.
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The Kebbi State Police Command confirmed that armed bandits attacked the school in the early hours of Monday, abducting 25 students and killing Makuku.
The President expressed deep sorrow over the abduction despite prior intelligence warnings, assured the families of the kidnapped girls of the government’s efforts to secure their release, and extended condolences to the military for the loss of gallant soldiers, including Brigadier General Musa Uba, who died in Borno State while fighting insurgents.