President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended his planned trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, as he awaits detailed security briefings on the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the deadly attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.
The decision was announced in a statement issued Wednesday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the President has directed the immediate deployment of additional security personnel to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area, while ordering the police to pursue and apprehend the bandits responsible for the church attack.
Tinubu had been scheduled to depart Abuja on Wednesday for the 20th G20 Summit of World Leaders in South Africa, before proceeding to Angola for the 7th AU-EU Summit. However, the recent surge in security incidents prompted a last-minute change.
“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,” the statement noted.
The President is now awaiting reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited Kebbi on his behalf, as well as briefings from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services on the Kwara attack.
Tinubu reaffirmed his directive to security agencies to “do everything possible” to rescue the 24 abducted schoolgirls and ensure their safe return.
