President Tinubu Postpones Trip For G20 , 7th AU-EU Summits, Assures Families Of Abducted School Girls Of Safe Return

 

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed his trip to South Africa and Angola for the 20th G20 Summit of leaders and the 7th AU-EU Summit, respectively, following the abduction of students at Government Girls’ Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State and the attack by bandits on a Church in Eruku community of Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State 

President Tinubu however assured Nigerians and families of students abducted in Maga, Kebbi State ,that the Federal Government will deploy all instruments of state to ensure the return of the schoolgirls.

Vice President Kashim Shettima gave the assurance on behalf of Tinubu 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 accompanied by 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, appreciated President Tinubu for his support.

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

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.

On the incident and the killings in the Eruku community of Kwara State, Pastor Bamidele, who spoke to journalist  where the incident happened, said the attackers killed three persons and abducted about 35 others.

“There was an incident when the bandits came, and they kidnapped almost 30 to 35 members of the church,” the clergyman, who pastors the Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, said.

“We were doing a Thanksgiving service for the 18 people that were kidnapped here three weeks ago, and all of them were rescued. That is why we are doing the service to thank God for the rescue of the people,” the preacher explained.