By Amofokhai Williams
President Bola Tinubu has postponed his attendance at two major international summits to oversee the government’s response to a spate of violent attacks, including the abduction of two dozen schoolgirls and a deadly assault on church worshippers.
The Alarmee reports that the President was scheduled to depart Abuja on Wednesday (today) for the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, followed by the AU-EU Summit in Luanda, Angola.
However, the Presidency announced that the trips have been suspended indefinitely as the Commander-in-Chief awaits critical security briefings on the escalating situation.
The decision follows two high-profile incidents that have reignited national concerns over security. In Kebbi State, 24 schoolgirls remain in captivity after being kidnapped by bandits.
Simultaneously, in Eruku, Kwara State, gunmen attacked worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church, an incident that has sent shockwaves through the relatively peaceful region.
“Disturbed by the security breaches, President Tinubu decided to suspend his departure,” said a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
The postponement signals a strategic prioritization of domestic instability over international diplomacy.
The G20 and AU-EU summits are key forums for global economic and intercontinental partnership, and President Tinubu’s absence may be noted by international partners.
However, the move is being framed by the administration as a necessary demonstration of leadership in the face of a national emergency.
In a direct response to the Kwara State attack, President Tinubu has approved the immediate deployment of additional military and police personnel to Eruku and the broader Ekiti Local Government Area.
The directive came at the request of the state’s governor and includes a mandate for security forces to “go after the bandits” responsible for the church attack.
This surge in security presence aims to prevent further incursions and reassure a terrified local population.
The President’s next steps are contingent on incoming assessments from multiple fronts. He is awaiting a ground-level report from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who paid a sympathy visit to Kebbi State on his behalf.
Furthermore, comprehensive operational briefings are expected from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding the specifics of the Kwara attack and the ongoing search for the perpetrators and the kidnapped schoolgirls.
President Tinubu has reiterated his directive to security agencies to “do everything possible to rescue the 24 schoolgirls and bring the girls back home, safe.”
