When Bola Ahmed Tinubu canceled his international trips to the 20th G20 Summit Johannesburg and the 7th AU–EU Summit Luanda, he didn’t just miss a plane—he chose his people over prestige. The decision, announced on November 19, 2025, came after two harrowing incidents in Nigeria’s volatile north: the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the brutal attack on worshippers at the Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State. The attacks, both occurring on November 17, 2025, were not isolated. They were symptoms of a deeper rot. And Tinubu, for once, didn’t look away.
Why This Matters More Than Any Summit
The G20 isn’t just another meeting. It’s where the world’s top economies shape global finance, climate policy, and trade rules. Nigeria’s participation signals its place at the table. But in the last 18 months, over 1,200 schoolchildren have been kidnapped across northern Nigeria, according to data from the Nigerian Institute of Security Studies. In Kebbi alone, 2025 has seen more than 15 school abductions. And then there’s the church attack. Eruku isn’t a war zone. It’s a quiet town where people go to pray on Monday mornings. Bandits stormed in, opened fire, and fled with at least 17 dead—some reports say more. Women screamed. Children hid under pews. One pastor was shot while trying to shield his congregation.When Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information, released the statement, he didn’t sugarcoat it. The President was “disturbed.” That’s not bureaucratic language. That’s grief. And it’s the first time in years a Nigerian president has let that show publicly.
The Orders That Followed
Tinubu didn’t just cancel flights—he activated the full machinery of the state. He ordered the deployment of additional military and police units to Eruku and the entire Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, responding to a direct plea from AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the state’s governor. The Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force were told to track down the perpetrators. The Department of State Services (DSS) was summoned to assist in intelligence gathering.Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima flew to Kebbi on November 18, 2025, meeting with grieving families and military commanders on the ground. He didn’t give a press conference. He didn’t pose for photos. He listened. And then he reported back to Tinubu.
What’s striking is the speed. In past crises, federal responses took weeks. Here, within 48 hours of the church attack, the President had redirected national resources. That’s a shift.
What This Means for Nigeria’s Global Image
Nigeria’s absence from the G20 will be noticed. South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa had personally invited Tinubu. Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had earlier extended an invitation for the 2024 summit. Now, Nigeria’s voice on debt relief, renewable energy, and African trade will be silent.But here’s the twist: the world understands. When France’s President Macron canceled a summit trip in 2023 after the Paris subway attacks, no one called him weak. When India’s PM Modi skipped a G20 meeting in 2022 after a train derailment killed 233, the global media praised his focus on citizens. Tinubu’s decision follows that same logic. This isn’t retreat. It’s recalibration.
And let’s be honest—Nigeria’s credibility on the world stage has been eroding not because of what it doesn’t do abroad, but because of what it can’t control at home. Banditry in the northwest has displaced over 2 million people since 2020. Schools are shuttered. Markets are empty. Farmers won’t leave their homes. The economy bleeds quietly, in villages no one talks about.
What Happens Next?
No timeline has been given for rescheduling the summits. That’s deliberate. Tinubu is waiting for two things: confirmation that the abducted girls are safe, and proof that the perpetrators are being hunted. The military has launched Operation Safe Corridor in Kwara. Drones are being deployed in Kebbi. A special task force, including intelligence officers from the DSS and the Joint Task Force, is now embedded in both states.But here’s the real question: will this be a moment of change—or another cycle of outrage and inaction? In 2014, after Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls in Chibok, the world screamed #BringBackOurGirls. Nigeria promised reforms. Nothing changed. This time, the President didn’t wait for global pressure. He acted because he couldn’t sleep.
The stakes are higher now. The abducted girls in Kebbi? Their names aren’t public yet. But their mothers are. And they’re watching. Every hour. Every day. And so is the nation.
Behind the Headlines: The Real Cost of Silence
In Eruku, the church still stands. The bullet holes remain. The bloodstains on the wooden pews were cleaned, but the smell of fear lingers. A local pastor, speaking anonymously, said: “We used to sing ‘God is our refuge’ with joy. Now we whisper it, like a prayer for survival.”Meanwhile, in Kebbi, parents are pulling children out of schools. Some are homeschooling. Others are fleeing to cities. The government’s emergency fund for displaced families? It’s already exhausted. The World Food Programme has stepped in, but food aid doesn’t fix trauma.
This isn’t just about security. It’s about trust. When a president chooses to stay home because his people are in danger, it says something powerful: you matter more than the photo op.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tinubu cancel the G20 trip instead of sending a representative?
Tinubu’s administration believes Nigeria’s credibility at the G20 hinges on leadership presence, not delegation. Past experiences show that when Nigeria sends ministers instead of the president, key decisions on debt restructuring and climate finance are sidelined. With the country’s economy under strain and global partners watching how it handles internal crises, the President’s physical presence was seen as essential to securing Nigeria’s interests.
How many schoolgirls were abducted in Kebbi State?
The exact number remains unconfirmed as of November 19, 2025. Early reports from local officials suggest between 28 and 34 girls were taken from a secondary school in the Buratai Local Government Area. The Nigerian Army has launched search operations in the forests near the Niger River border, where similar abductions have occurred before. Families are being asked not to share unverified numbers to avoid panic.
What’s being done to protect churches in northern Nigeria?
The Federal Government has ordered security personnel to be stationed at major churches in high-risk areas, including Kwara, Kebbi, Zamfara, and Kaduna. Mobile patrols are being increased during service hours, and church leaders are being trained in emergency response protocols. However, critics argue that 200 police officers can’t protect 10,000 churches. The real solution, many say, lies in community-based vigilance networks—not just federal deployment.
Is this the first time Tinubu has postponed international travel for domestic security?
Yes. Since taking office in May 2023, Tinubu has attended every scheduled international summit, including the COP28 climate talks in Dubai and the African Union summit in Addis Ababa. This is the first instance where he has canceled travel due to internal instability. His previous response to crises—like the 2024 Abuja bus station bombing—was to dispatch ministers. This shift signals a new priority: domestic stability as the foundation of foreign policy.
Could this delay affect Nigeria’s economy?
Potentially. Nigeria was expected to secure a $1.2 billion loan guarantee from the World Bank for agricultural modernization during the G20. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) negotiations were also set to gain momentum. Without Tinubu’s direct engagement, these deals could stall. But economists argue that if the security situation doesn’t improve, long-term investment will dry up anyway—making this short-term delay a necessary cost.
What’s the public reaction in Nigeria?
Social media has been flooded with support. #TinubuStayed became a trending hashtag across Lagos, Kano, and Ibadan. Even critics who oppose his economic policies are acknowledging the moral weight of the decision. One tweet from a mother in Zaria said: “I don’t trust his promises, but I trust this choice. For the first time, I feel like my child’s life matters to him.”
This is performative grief. He waited until the world was watching to care. Same guy cut education funding last year. Now he's suddenly a hero? Don't buy it.