…moves to receive security briefing, vows safe return of schoolgirls
President Bola Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg in South Africa and Luanda, Angola.
This is just as he awaits further security briefings on the kidnapped Kebbi schoolgirls and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday afternoon revealed that in response to the request by the Government 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.
He also directed the police to go after the bandits who attacked worshippers.
The President 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 seventh AU-EU Summit.
However, according to Onanuga, the President will now await reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who has been directed by the President to visit Kebbi on his behalf.
Tinubu will also await reports from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) regarding the attack in Kwara.
“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,” the statement partly read.
It also disclosed that the President reiterated his directive to the security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the schoolgirls abducted by the bandits in Kebbi State and bring them back home, safe.
Tinubu Assures Families Of Schoolgirls’ Return, Names Of Students Released
President Bola Tinubu has assured Nigerians and families of students abducted in Maga, Kebbi, that the Federal Government will deploy all instruments of state to ensure the return of the schoolgirls.
Tinubu’s assurance came on Wednesday from Vice President Kashim Shettima during his visit to Kebbi to commiserate with the government and people of the state, days after the abduction of the students.
Shettima, who touched down at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport alongside the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Nentawe Yilwatda, and other members of his entourage on Wednesday, described the incident as unfortunate.
He said the President’s priority is the safe return of the schoolgirls. Shettima commended security agencies for their sacrifices.
According to him, Brigadier General Musa Uba, who was killed by terrorists, will be honoured alongside Hassan Makuku, the vice principal of Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School — where the incident happened.
Governor Nasir Idris, who received Shettima during the visit, thanked President Tinubu for his support.
The governor noted that the Kebbi State Government is complementing the Federal Government’s efforts by providing an enabling environment for security agencies.
According to sources, the attackers killed the school’s Vice Principal, Hassan Makuku, before abducting several schoolgirls.
Tinubu’s message came a few days after gunmen attacked the school, killing its vice principal while he tried to stop the bandits from kidnapping the girls.
The attack has drawn condemnation from within and outside the country. Three days after the abduction, the Chairman of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, Hussaini Aliyu, released the names of the schoolgirls.
Aliyu gave their names as follows:
Senior Secondary School 2A
1. Fatima Sani Zimri
2. Hafsat Ibrahim
3. Nana Firdausi Jibril
4. Masauda Yakubu Romo
Senior Secondary School 2B
5. Hauwa Saleh
6. Hauwau Umar Imam
Senior Secondary School 3A & 3B
7. Salima Garba Umar
8. Salima Sani Zimri
9. Amina G. Umar
10. Rashida Muhammad Dingu
11. Saliha Umar
12. Aisha Usman
13. Jamila Iliyasu
14. Maryam Illiyasu
15. Najaatu Abdullahi
16. Zainab Kolo
Junior Secondary School 3A
17. Surraya Tukur
18. Hafsat Umar Yalmo
19. Maryam Usman
20. Amina Illiyasu
21. Ikilima Suleman
Junior Secondary School 2
22. Khadija Nazifi
23. Hauwa’u Iliyasu
24. Hauwa’u Lawali
25. Ummu Kulsum Abdulkarim
Kebbi State is in North-West, Nigeria.
The LGA boss also refuted claims by a US lawmaker, Riley Moore, that the incident happened in a Christian-dominated area.
According to him, the abducted students are Muslims. Aliyu asked Moore to refrain from unverified comments which he said are capable of causing divisions in the country.
Meanwhile, President Tinubu has postponed his trip to South Africa and Angola for the 20th G20 Summit of leaders and the 7th AU-EU Summit, respectively.
His decision was due to the incident and the killings in the Eruku community of Kwara State.
