President Bola Tinubu has suspended his planned trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, following fresh security breaches in Kebbi and Kwara states, including the abduction of schoolgirls and an attack on church worshippers.
Tinubu was expected to depart Abuja yesterday for the 20th G20 Summit of leaders in South Africa and later proceed to Angola for the 7th AU-EU Summit. However, the President decided to put the trips on hold to receive further security briefings on the kidnap of students of Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School, GGCSS, Maga, Kebbi State, and the attack on Christ Apostolic Church, CAC, Oke-Isegun, Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The Kwara attack left three persons dead and several worshippers abducted, while 25 female students were kidnapped in Kebbi and the school’s vice principal was killed. The incidents also came in the wake of the killing of the commander of 25 Taskforce Brigade, Brigadier-General Musa Uba.
Responding to a request by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, President Tinubu yesterday ordered the deployment of more security personnel to Eruku and other parts of Ekiti Local Government Area and directed the police to track down the bandits behind the church attack.
In a statement, presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President was awaiting comprehensive reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited Kebbi on his behalf, as well as from the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, on the Kwara incident.
Tinubu reaffirmed his directive to the security agencies to do everything possible to rescue the abducted schoolgirls and return them safely to their families.
Reacting earlier to the killings and abductions, the President had said: “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty. May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes.
“I am also depressed that heartless terrorists have disrupted the education of innocent schoolgirls. I have directed the security agencies to act swiftly and bring the girls back to Kebbi State.”
We’ll use state apparatus to rescue our daughters – Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who visited Birnin-Kebbi yesterday, described the abduction of the Maga schoolgirls as a national tragedy, assuring that the Federal Government would deploy all state apparatus to secure their release.
Shettima was in the state on the directive of President Tinubu to assess the situation and commiserate with the government and people of Kebbi.
“Mr President is deeply troubled by this tragedy. He shares your anguish, and he has sent me to assure you that this is not a moment for politics. This grief transcends party lines, geography, and identity.
“This is a time for unity, for compassion, and for firm resolve in the face of evil. Our priority is singular and unflinching: our daughters must return home safely,” he said.
The Vice President said Nigeria would not relent until all the girls were rescued and pledged that the Federal Government would honour and support the family of the vice principal who was killed while trying to defend his students.
“We will honour and take care of the family of the vice principal of the school. His sacrifice will not be in vain,” Shettima added.
He commended the military, Police, DSS and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, for their efforts on the front line and paid tribute to the late Brigadier-General Musa Uba, saying his sacrifice would not be forgotten.
Shettima also praised Kebbi State governor, Dr Nasir Idris, describing him as a “true son of the North” and one of the leading governors in the region.
Governor Idris, in his response, thanked the President and the Vice President for standing with Kebbi in its moment of grief and expressed confidence in the Federal Government’s capacity to tackle insecurity.
“We appreciate your coming to Kebbi to sympathise with us and we have absolute confidence in Mr President’s capabilities in terms of insecurity,” he said.
LG chairman releases names of abducted Kebbi students
The chairman of Danko-Wasagu Local Government Area, Hussaini Aliyu, yesterday released the names of some of the abducted students of GGCSS Maga.
Those in Senior Secondary School 2A are: Fatima Sani Zimri, Hafsat Ibrahim, Nana Firdausi Jibril and Masauda Yakubu Romo.
In Senior Secondary School 2B: Hauwa Saleh and Hauwau Umar Imam.
Those in Senior Secondary School 3A and 3B include: Salima Garba Umar, Salima Sani Zimri, Amina G. Umar, Rashida Muhammad Dingu, Saliha Umar, Aisha Usman, Jamila Iliyasu, Maryam Illiyasu, Najaatu Abdullahi and Zainab Kolo.
In Junior Secondary School 3A are: Surraya Tukur, Hafsat Umar Yalmo, Maryam Usman, Amina Illiyasu and Ikilima Suleman.
Those in Junior Secondary School 2 are: Khadija Nazifi, Hauwa’u Iliyasu, Hauwa’u Lawali and Ummu Kulsum Abdulkarim.
JNI decries abduction of Kebbi schoolgirls, seeks decisive action
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam, JNI, under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, yesterday condemned the abduction of the Kebbi schoolgirls, describing it as a “heartless and avoidable tragedy.”
In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Prof. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, JNI expressed deep concern over the recurring pattern of mass abductions in northern Nigeria, noting that the latest incident occurred barely days after a major security summit in Birnin-Kebbi on November 10.
The group said it had been monitoring developments in Kebbi and was alarmed at what it termed “glaring gaps in security coordination,” recalling the recent kidnapping and release of the deputy speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly as evidence of growing criminal boldness.
JNI drew parallels between the Maga school abduction and previous attacks in Chibok, Dapchi, Kankara and Kagara, and questioned how the kidnappers were able to infiltrate the school so easily.
It faulted what it called the “reactive posture” of security agencies, saying parents often received little information or reassurance after such incidents.
“This recurring tragedy is too much for parents to bear. Insecurity around schools, especially girls’ boarding schools, has become a major barrier to girl-child education in the region. No parent will now be comfortable, allowing their daughters to attend unprotected schools. And the North is the loser,” the statement said.
JNI condoled with the family of the slain vice principal and parents of the abducted girls and prayed for their safe return. It also urged intensified prayers, including Qunootun-Nawazil, Adhkar and other supplications, as spiritual support during this period.
The body urged governments at all levels to move beyond rhetoric and take bold, coordinated steps to secure the immediate release of the Kebbi girls and other victims still in captivity, insisting: “Enough should be enough.”
It further called on northern governors to prioritise maximum security for girls’ schools and warned that the North-Central region could become the next target because of its vast forests, stressing that preventive measures, not reactive responses, must now shape security strategy.
“The government must rise against the tide of insecurity in whatever guise before it becomes cataclysmic for the Nigerian state,” JNI added.
Bandits attack church, kill three, abduct many in Kwara community
In Kwara State, gunmen on Tuesday attacked worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke-Isegun, Okeado Street, Eruku, in Ekiti Local Government Area, killing three persons and abducting many others.
Spokesperson for Eruku community, Olasukanmi Ayeni, told Vanguard that the bandits struck around 6pm during a church service.
He identified the deceased as Tunde Asabe, Segun Alaja and one Deremi, adding that a young girl with a severe gunshot wound to the neck was receiving treatment at a hospital.
“People were abducted inside the church; they are about ten but it could be more than that. The three corpses are still inside the church as we speak,” he said.
Ayeni disclosed that for about four weeks, bandits had been attempting to gain access to the community through the Eruku/Egbe and Eruku/Omu-Aran roads but were repelled by local hunters and vigilantes.
He lamented that several distress calls to the state and local government authorities during the earlier attempts were ignored and accused the Ekiti Local Government chairman, Wale Awelewa, of failing to respond to Save Our Soul messages or visit the community after the attack.
Ayeni, however, commended the local police for consistently supporting vigilantes in tracking the bandits into the surrounding forests.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kwara State Police Command, Ejire Adetoun Adeyemi, said: “The Kwara State Police Command confirms an attempted bandit attack in Eruku, which occurred at about 18:00 hours on November 18, 2025.
“The DPO Eruku and his team of police operatives, in collaboration with vigilantes, swiftly responded to the sound of gunshots emanating from the outskirts of the town, prompting the hoodlums to flee into the bush.
“Upon thorough search of the area, one male victim, Mr Aderemi, was discovered fatally shot inside the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, while one Mr Tunde Asaba Ajayi, another victim of fatal gunshot, was found in the bush.
“A vigilante, Segun Alaja, sustained gunshot injuries and was immediately rushed to ECWA Hospital, Eruku, for medical treatment.”
The Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, commended the swift response of the police and vigilantes and assured that security agencies would not relent until the criminals were completely flushed out.
Angry youths block Ilorin–Kabba road over attack
Following the attack, angry youths from Eruku and neighbouring areas yesterday mounted a protest on the Ilorin–Kabba highway, blocking the road and disrupting traffic.
When Vanguard visited the area around 3pm, several articulated vehicles heading towards Kogi State were stranded.
One of the protesters, Timothy Joshua, whose wife and granddaughter were among those abducted, accused the police of failing to intervene during the attack, which he said lasted for close to an hour.
A youth leader, Peter Adesiyan, also criticised the security agencies, saying despite the community’s investment in building facilities for the police division, officers did not respond when residents needed help.
In response, Commissioner of Police Adekimi Ojo visited Eruku in company with the State Director of the DSS and assured that additional personnel and an Armoured Personnel Carrier would be deployed to the area.
The traditional ruler of Eruku, Oba Busari Arinde Oyediran Olanrewaju, appealed to the youths to remain calm and allow security agencies to conduct their operations and investigations.
Emir of Ilorin, governor condemn attack, seek tighter security
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Traditional Rulers, Mai-Martaba Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, condemned the church attack and abductions, describing the incident as “most unfortunate, condemnable and worrisome.”
In a statement by his Press Secretary, Dr Abdulazeez Arowona, the monarch expressed sadness that such a “dastardly and unpatriotic act” occurred at a time governments were intensifying efforts to tackle banditry, terrorism and other crimes.
He urged security agencies to intensify efforts to ensure the safe return of all kidnapped victims and prayed for the repose of the souls of those killed.
Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaiye, said he had requested the urgent deployment of additional security forces to Ekiti Local Government Area, particularly the Eruku axis, to curb the new wave of attacks.
“The governor has sought immediate deployment of more security operatives to support the existing security architecture in the area. He requested that this new measure be activated immediately.
“The governor wholly condemns the unconscionable attack, sympathises and identifies with the people of Eruku and environs, especially families and the CAC directly impacted by the condemnable attack of Tuesday.
“The state government will continue to support the security agencies to tackle these challenges and ensure safety of lives and properties across the state,” the statement added.
AbdulRazaq also commended President Tinubu for approving the deployment of 900 additional troops to Kwara, saying the move had already brought relative calm to previously troubled areas and expressing confidence that the new reinforcement would further strengthen security.
Soldiers take over Kwara community
In the aftermath of the church attack, soldiers yesterday moved into Eruku community to forestall further incursions by bandits.
Community spokesman, Ayeni Olanipekun, confirmed that troops and the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, were on ground in the town.
“As we speak, the soldiers have taken over Eruku, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Ojo Adekimi, is also there with his team.
“We learnt that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved their deployment to the community. We also learnt that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is also on his way to Eruku with his team,” he said.
He added that local hunters deployed into nearby forests in search of the abducted victims had yet to return, but noted that efforts were ongoing to rescue them.
5 soldiers, one vigilante wounded; terrorists neutralised in Kebbi gunfight
On the Kebbi situation, troops of 8 Division/Sector 2, Operation Hadarin Daji (referred to as Operation Fansan Yamma in some accounts), yesterday reportedly neutralised several terrorists during a clearance operation against bandit enclaves in the state.
Security sources said the operation was aimed at dismantling terrorists’ bases to prevent further attacks and kidnappings, dismissing claims that the troops were ambushed while on a mission specifically to rescue the 25 kidnapped students.
“No. It was a different mission and we attacked them. They also attacked to safeguard their enclave. Several bandits were neutralized and we had a few wounded in action soldiers but no fatalities,” one of the sources said.
The sources added that following operations against bandits in Yauri by troops of 1 Battalion deployed in Shanga, in conjunction with vigilantes, troops embarked on a fighting patrol to Macrain village, where bandits had rustled an unconfirmed number of cattle.
They said the troops inflicted heavy casualties on the bandits, but five soldiers and one vigilante sustained gunshot injuries. The injured personnel were evacuated to a hospital in Yauri Local Government Area and later moved to the Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi, after being stabilised.
We’ll hold you accountable, US senator tells FG
Meanwhile, United States senator, Jim Risch of Idaho, has condemned the abduction of the Kebbi schoolgirls, accusing the Nigerian government of repeatedly failing to protect schoolchildren from jihadist and criminal attacks.
In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Risch said schoolchildren, particularly girls, remained prime targets for enslavement, forced conversion and ransom.
“Nigeria has long failed to protect its schoolchildren from jihadist and criminal abductions, and little has changed.
“As the U.S. engages the Nigerian government on the persecution of its most vulnerable citizens, we will continue to hold them accountable,” he wrote.
Another US lawmaker, Riley Moore, also took to X to condemn the abduction and called for prayers for the victims.
“Please join me in praying for the 25 girls who have been kidnapped and for the repose of the soul of their vice principal, who was killed,” he wrote.
