President Bola Tinubu has put on hold, his planned trips to South Africa and Angola as the nation’s security situation worsens with the abduction of 25 girls from a secondary school in Kebbi state and the deadly attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church, Eruku, in Kwara State.

The President was scheduled to depart Abuja today for Johannesburg to attend the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit and thereafter proceed to Luanda for the 7th AU-EU Summit but decided to  shelve the trips in order to receive comprehensive security briefings and coordinate the federal government’s response.

Presidential Spokesman, Bayo Onanuga in a statement said the decision was taken by the president after reviewing the gravity of the Kwara attack on CAC church.

It will be recalled that armed terrorists abducted 24 girls from a government school in Kebbi state, prompting an intensive manhunt by security agencies.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited the state on the President’s behalf, is expected to deliver a detailed situation report on the ongoing rescue efforts, the condition of affected families, and the immediate needs of the community.

In Kwara, the President has directed the military and police high commands to deploy additional personnel to Eruku and across the Ekiti Local Government Area following a request by the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had earlier appealed for urgent federal reinforcement as residents expressed fear of further assaults.

President Tinubu also ordered the police and the Department of State Services to brief him with updated intelligence, including preliminary findings on the attack, patterns of bandit movement in the axis, and recommendations for rapid stabilisation operations.

Reiterating his earlier directive, the President charged all security agencies involved in the Kebbi rescue operation to “do everything possible” to bring home the abducted schoolgirls safely and ensure that those responsible for both incidents are tracked down and brought to justice.

The Presidency, in a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, stressed that while Nigeria remains committed to its diplomatic and economic engagements with the G20 and AU–EU partners, the President would not embark on any foreign trip at a time when communities are grieving and urgent security decisions are required at home.

Officials indicate that new travel dates will be announced once the President is satisfied with the progress of operations and has concluded all necessary security consultations.