President Bola Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, due to the recent surge in insecurity, including the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the attack on worshippers in Eruku, Kwara State.

According to a statement released on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President shelved the foreign trips to receive detailed security briefings from relevant agencies and top officials.

Tinubu, who was expected to depart Abuja for the 20th G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg before proceeding to Angola for the 7th AU-EU Summit, opted to remain in the country following two major security incidents that sparked nationwide concern.

Tinubu Orders Deployment of More Security Personnel to Kwara

In response to a request from the Kwara State Government, President Tinubu has directed the urgent deployment of additional security operatives to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area after gunmen attacked worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church on Monday.

He further mandated security agencies to track down the assailants and ensure the safety of residents in the troubled communities.

Awaiting Briefings on Kebbi Schoolgirls’ Abduction

The President is also awaiting reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who has been dispatched to Kebbi State on a sympathy visit following the abduction of 25 schoolgirls from the Maga community in Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area.

Additionally, Tinubu awaits comprehensive updates from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS) on both the Kebbi and Kwara incidents.

Security Agencies Directed to Intensify Rescue Efforts

Onanuga disclosed that the President reiterated his orders to security agencies to intensify operations and “do everything possible” to rescue the abducted schoolgirls and ensure their safe return.

“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,” the statement read.

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A night of worship turned into tragedy on Sunday after armed terrorists stormed a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing and abducting several worshippers during a service that was being streamed live.

According to eyewitnesses, the attackers invaded the church mid-service and opened fire indiscriminately, sending members of the congregation scrambling for safety. The terrifying moment was captured on the church’s live camera, which recorded the chaos as gunmen advanced toward worshippers.

Residents of the community told journalists that multiple people were shot dead, while an unknown number were taken away by the assailants. The exact casualty figure remains unclear as security agencies have yet to release an official statement.

The incident has sparked widespread fear across Eruku and neighbouring towns, with many describing it as one of the most shocking attacks the area has witnessed in recent times. Community leaders say the attack highlights the growing insecurity in parts of Kwara and the increasing boldness of criminal groups targeting places of worship.

Local vigilantes and security operatives were reportedly mobilised shortly after the attack, but the gunmen had already fled with their captives.

The Kwara State Police Command is yet to issue an official response as of the time of filing this report.

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American rapper Onika Maraj-Petty, popularly known as Nicki Minaj, has called for urgent international action to stop what she described as increasing attacks on Christians in Nigeria.

Minaj made the appeal on Tuesday while speaking at a United Nations dialogue in New York, where she addressed reports of targeted violence against Christian communities. Her appearance followed an earlier announcement that she would join the session alongside U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz.

Speaking during the broadcast streamed on the official YouTube channel of the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Minaj condemned the rising assaults on religious groups, warning that the violence had reached “alarming levels.”

“Christians in Nigeria are being targeted, driven from their homes, and killed in far too many areas,” she said.

The Grammy-nominated artist highlighted the destruction of churches, displacement of families, and the growing fear among communities attacked because of their faith. She stressed that these incidents were not isolated to Nigeria alone but formed part of a disturbing global trend of religious persecution.

Minaj clarified that advocating for the protection of Christian minorities should not be viewed as taking sides, insisting that it is a humanitarian issue that requires unity rather than division. She described Nigeria as a country rich in diverse faith traditions and expressed her excitement about connecting with her Nigerian fan base the “Barbz.”

Addressing the broader attack on religious sites, Minaj said the destruction of any church, mosque, or sacred place should be a cause for global concern, adding that such violence undermines the core mission of the United Nations to uphold peace and security.

She also praised peacebuilders and interfaith leaders present at the event, commending their efforts to promote harmony and safeguard the rights of all believers.

“I hope it will encourage deepened solidarity for us to urgently work together to ensure every person can enjoy the right to believe, to worship, and to live in peace… Barbz,” she concluded.

Her comments come amid renewed attention on Nigeria’s religious conflict, following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent warning of possible military intervention against Islamic extremists in the country if attacks on Christians continue. Trump’s remarks accompanied his decision to label Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern,” a designation the Nigerian government has rejected.

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Kebbi State Governor, Mohammed Nasir Idris, has expressed outrage over what he described as a shocking failure by security agencies to act on credible intelligence warning of an impending attack on the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in Danko/Wasagu Local Government Area.

In the early hours of Monday, suspected gunmen invaded the school, killing the vice principal and abducting 25 female students. Three of the abducted girls reportedly escaped hours later.

Governor Idris, who arrived at the scene at about 6:45 pm on Monday, accused unnamed security agencies of undermining the security measures put in place by his administration.

“This is clear sabotage. We got credible intelligence from the DSS that this school was likely to be attacked. DSS further advised that we convene an emergency Security Council meeting, which we did. And the decision was that we would provide round-the-clock protection for the students,” the governor said.

He recalled that he acted promptly on the DSS alert, mindful of the security lapses that led to the infamous December 2020 kidnapping of over 300 students from a secondary school in Kankara, Katsina State.

According to Governor Idris, security personnel were deployed to the school to guard the students. However, what followed left him “deeply disturbed.” Security operatives allegedly spent hours taking photographs with the students before abandoning their posts barely 30 minutes before the bandits struck.

The governor, accompanied by top security chiefs in the state, announced the establishment of a special investigation panel to uncover the circumstances surrounding the attack despite the advance intelligence and government’s proactive efforts.

The panel, to be headed by the State Director of the DSS, will also coordinate efforts to secure the safe return of the kidnapped students.

A teacher who escaped the attack expressed shock over the turn of events, recalling that heavily armed operatives had been deployed to the school on Sunday and engaged students and teachers in emergency drills.

“The heavily armed security men spent the entire night guarding the school. Sadly, for yet-to-be-determined reasons, they left the school before dawn. About 30 minutes after they withdrew, the kidnappers struck,” the teacher recounted.

He added that the accuracy of the DSS intelligence may have influenced the governor’s decision to appoint the DSS director to lead the investigation committee.

Despite the tragic incident, the teacher expressed optimism, noting that indications suggest the girls were abducted, not killed.

“With the ongoing efforts by federal and state authorities, we are hopeful that they will all be rescued,” he said.

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A senior Nigerian Army officer, Brigadier General M. Uba, has been killed by Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists after they reportedly intercepted and tracked his live location along the Damboa–Biu axis in Borno State.

Multiple military sources confirmed that the commander was abducted and later executed by the insurgents shortly after participating in a successful joint air–ground offensive against ISWAP fighters.

Operation Before the Incident

According to reports, the late Brigadier General had earlier led ground troops in a clearance operation, during which soldiers came under heavy ambush. Unknown to the forces, the route had been booby-trapped, leading to an intense gun battle.

The commander issued a distress call, prompting Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft to divert from ongoing missions to provide close air support. The airstrikes dispersed the insurgents and allowed the troops, including the commander and Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) members, to regroup.

After the operation, General Uba contacted his superiors, assuring them of his safety and confirming that his team was reorganizing. Security sources, however, believe this communication may have inadvertently exposed his coordinates.

Abduction and Execution

ISWAP fighters reportedly intercepted his location and captured him alive. The terrorists briefly interrogated him before executing him, according to security officials familiar with the development.

Earlier reports from SaharaReporters indicated that the attack, which happened Friday night, resulted in the deaths of two soldiers and two CJTF members, alongside the abduction of Brig-Gen Uba and two other soldiers.

Although the Nigerian Army initially denied the abduction, officers confirmed that the Brigade Commander had not returned to base by Saturday morning.

One senior officer disclosed that the commander managed to transmit his live location to colleagues, but troops dispatched to the spot could not locate him. Another soldier abducted during the ambush—who was shot and left behind—was later rescued alive.

Sources also revealed that the General was forced to make a video call to his dry cleaner while in captivity but warned the civilian not to speak, suggesting he was under duress.

High-Level Military Response

Following the incident, top military commanders, including the Theatre Commander of Operation Hadin Kai, Major General Abdulsalam Abubakar, rushed to Damboa to coordinate rescue efforts and boost morale among troops.

In response to the crisis, the Nigerian Army has appointed Brigadier General Mustapha to temporarily head the 26 Task Force Brigade in Damboa pending further directive from Army Headquarters.

Background of the Attack

It was reported earlier that how ISWAP launched a coordinated ambush on a Nigerian military convoy in northeastern Nigeria, killing several soldiers and CJTF members.

The insurgents, heavily armed and well-organized, targeted the convoy during nighttime operations, further heightening concerns over ISWAP’s evolving tactics and surveillance capabilities.

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