Abuja – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed his scheduled departure for the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, and the subsequent 7th African Union‑European Union Summit in Luanda, Angola. The decision follows urgent security briefings on the abduction of the Kebbi schoolgirls and the recent bandit attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State. In a statement, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), said the President “has postponed his trip to await further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.”
The President, who was slated to leave Abuja today, had his travel plans suspended after the governor of Kwara State requested additional security measures. Consequently, President Tinubu ordered the deployment of more security personnel to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area, and directed the police to pursue the bandits responsible for the church attack. He also reiterated his directive to security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the 24 schoolgirls abducted in Kebbi and bring them home safely.
In the same statement, Bayo Onanuga 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.” The Vice President’s visit to Kebbi was intended to convey the President’s deep sympathy to the families of the victims and to assure them that the government would spare no effort in securing the release of the girls.
Bayo Onanuga further noted that the President remains committed to the safety of all Nigerians and will continue to monitor the situation closely. The postponement underscores the administration’s priority to address the immediate security threats before engaging in diplomatic engagements abroad. The President is expected to resume his foreign itinerary once the security situation in Kebbi and Kwara is resolved and comprehensive briefings have been received.
