By Cross Udo, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday suspended his scheduled departure for Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, following a fresh wave of insecurity, including the abduction of 24 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the deadly attack on worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The President, who was scheduled to leave Abuja for the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa before proceeding to Angola for the 7th AU-EU Summit, opted to remain in the country to receive further security briefings and coordinate the government’s response to the disturbing attacks.
A statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the President is awaiting detailed reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented him on a condolence visit to Kebbi, as well as from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) on both the abduction and the Kwara church attack.
Tinubu, acting on a request from the Kwara State Governor, also ordered the immediate deployment of additional security personnel to Eruku and surrounding communities, directing the Police to hunt down the bandits responsible for the assault on worshippers.
The President reiterated his earlier directive to security agencies to “do everything possible” to rescue the abducted schoolgirls and restore calm to affected communities. He described the abduction and the killing of military officers as deeply distressing.
“As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes,” the President said in a statement issued earlier.
“I am also depressed that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. I have directed the security agencies to act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State.”
*Shettima assures schoolgirls will be returned
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited Birnin Kebbi on the President’s directive, assured traumatised families that the Federal Government will deploy “every instrument of the state” to rescue the abducted schoolgirls.
He also said that the perpetrators of the killings, including those responsible for the deaths of Brigadier General Musa Uba and the Vice Principal of the school, would face the full weight of the law.
Speaking during a meeting with stakeholders at Government House, Shettima described the abduction of the girls from their boarding school in Maga as an “assault on the collective conscience of the nation.”
“Kebbi’s pain is Nigeria’s pain. When one child is taken, every home in this nation grieves,” the Vice President said. “Mr President is deeply troubled by this tragedy. He shares your anguish and has sent me to assure you that this is not a moment for politics. Our priority is singular: our daughters must return home safely.”
He said the Federal Government will not abandon affected families, adding that support will be extended to the relatives of the slain Brigadier-General, the deceased Vice Principal, and others killed during the attacks.
“We honour the ultimate sacrifice made by some of our brave officers. To the family of the late Brigadier-General Musa Uba, we say his sacrifice will never be forgotten. When a soldier dies defending the nation, a part of our collective soul is touched,” Shettima said.
The Vice President praised Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, traditional rulers, community leaders, vigilante groups, civil society organisations, and security agencies for their coordinated response to the crisis.
He specifically commended officers of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Police, the DSS, the NSCDC, and other intelligence units for their courage despite overwhelming challenges.
*Kebbi Gov: We feel Tinubu’s support; girls will return soon
Governor Nasir Idris expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu for his swift interventions and for his constant communication with the state government since the incident.
He said he remained optimistic that the girls would be rescued soon, assuring that the state government was taking additional measures to prevent a recurrence.
“We are touched by the show of concern and the decisive steps already taken,” the Governor said. “With the commitment of Mr President, ably represented here by the Vice President, I am optimistic that our girls will be rescued.”
Those who accompanied the Vice President included APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yitwada; Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida; Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu; Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Iman Suleiman Ibrahim; Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Bernard Fori; and Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr Tanko Sununu Yusuf.
Others were members of the National Assembly, members of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, former Governor Usman Saidu Nasamu Dakingari, Senator Bala Ibn Na Allah, Director General of NEMA Hajiya Zubaida Umar, the Secretary to the State Government, Yakubu Bala, senior government officials, and heads of military and paramilitary formations.
*Opposition slams FG
Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had earlier condemned the abduction of the 25 school girls and the killing of the vice principal.
Ini Ememobong, PDP national publicity secretary, said the incident reflects the “alarming rise in insecurity” across the country.
He said the Federal Government under the leadership of President Tinubu has “preferred the politicisation of governance over the protection of citizens”.
Ememonong said the government must accept responsibility for its failure to secure lives and property.
He condoled with the family of the slain vice-principal, the parents of the abducted students, and the Kebbi state government.
The former Akwa Ibom commissioner said recent abductions in Nasarawa, Plateau, Kano and Katsina states show that insecurity “is clearly not the hope promised Nigerians”.
In the same vein, the National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the attack is “another painful reminder of the worsening insecurity across the country”.
Abdullahi said the party has repeatedly warned the federal government to confront insecurity with “seriousness and urgency”, adding that the administration has “turned a blind eye to the suffering of ordinary Nigerians”.
He said the abduction must not become a repeat of the Chibok girls’ saga of 2014.
