President Bola Tinubu has postponed his planned trip to South Africa for the G20 Leaders Summit as he awaits detailed 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.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President also ordered an immediate deployment of additional security operatives to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area. He further directed the police to pursue and apprehend the bandits behind the attack.
Onanuga noted that the order followed a request from the governor of Kwara State.
Presidency sources told our correspondent that Tinubu wants to receive first-hand updates on the Kebbi incident, including the outcome of meetings with local leaders, before travelling for the summit.
Tinubu was scheduled to leave Abuja today to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and thereafter proceed to Luanda to attend the 7th AU-EU Summit.
“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.
“He 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,” Onanuga explained.
The President reiterated his directive to the 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, Tinubu had directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to visit Kebbi State on Wednesday over the abduction of 25 students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, and the killing of the school’s Vice-Principal.
The President, who had been briefed by the military authorities “expressed sadness over the abduction of the schoolgirls, despite intelligence warnings of a possible strike by the bandits.
While assuring the guardians of the kidnapped schoolgirls that the government will ensure their quick release, Tinubu also commiserated with the military over the death of the gallant soldiers and Brigadier General Musa Uba, who paid the ultimate price while on active duty fighting insurgents in Borno state.
