ABUJA — Nigerian President Bola Tinubu confirmed on Sunday the rescue and recovery of at least 89 victims abducted in the country’s central region last week.
Of that number, 38 worshippers were kidnapped during a church service in Eruku, Kwara State, and at least 51 students were seized during an attack on a school in Niger State on Friday.
President Tinubu said the return of the victims resulted from “days of coordinated operations by security agencies,” which he personally supervised after cancelling a planned trip to the G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“Let me be clear: I will not relent. Every Nigerian, in every state, has the right to safety — and under my watch, we will secure this nation and protect our people,” he declared in a statement on his official X account.
In response to the security challenges, Tinubu ordered police officers assigned to protect “very important persons” to concentrate instead on core duties. He noted that many parts of Nigeria, particularly remote areas, suffer from a shortage of policemen, making it difficult to ensure citizens’ protection.
He further stressed that police presence in all communities must be strengthened amid the current security climate. (Xinhua)
