President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has suspended his planned foreign engagements including the 20th G20 Summit in Johannesburg and the 7th AU-EU Summit in Luanda to address rising security challenges at home.
The decision follows two major incidents: the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and a deadly attack on worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State. Several people were injured, and multiple worshippers were taken during the assault.
In a statement on Wednesday, presidential adviser Bayo Onanuga said Tinubu acted after receiving a request from Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for heightened security in the affected communities. The president immediately ordered the deployment of additional security personnel to Eruku and Ekiti LGA, directing the police to track down the attackers.
Tinubu is awaiting reports from Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who visited Kebbi on his behalf, as well as updates from the police and DSS on the Kwara incident. He also reaffirmed his directive to security agencies to “do everything possible” to rescue the abducted Kebbi schoolgirls.
Tuesday’s attack in Eruku saw armed bandits invade the CAC Oke Isegun branch, injuring three people, including a vigilante. Police said the attackers fled after security agents intervened.
The incident occurred less than 48 hours after bandits raided Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, abducting 25 students, though two later escaped.
Reacting to the ongoing security crises, Tinubu said he was “depressed” by the killings of military personnel and by the disruption of the girls’ education, directing security forces to act swiftly to return them safely home.
