Tinubu postpones trips to South Africa, Angola over recent attacks

President Bola Tinubu has postponed his planned visits to South Africa and Angola following the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the attack on worshippers in the Eruku community of Kwara State.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, said Tinubu made the decision after receiving a request from Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for increased security deployment to the affected area.

Onanuga said the president had ordered additional security personnel to be dispatched to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area, with a directive to the police to track down the attackers who invaded the Christ Apostolic Church on Monday.

Tinubu had been scheduled to leave Abuja today for Johannesburg to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders, before proceeding to Luanda for the 7th AU-EU Summit.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trip to Johannesburg, South Africa and Luanda, Angola, as he awaits further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.

“In response to the request by the governor of Kwara State, President Tinubu has ordered the deployment of more security men to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of the state, and directed the police to go after the bandits who attacked worshippers.

“President Tinubu was scheduled to leave Abuja today to attend the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and thereafter proceed to Luanda to attend the 7th AU-EU Summit.
“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.

“He 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.

“President Tinubu reiterates his directive to the security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the 24 schoolgirls, abducted by the bandits and bring the girls back home, safe,” the statement read.