Nigeria’s President Postpones Summits Amid Rising Violence
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has denied allegations of persecution against Christians in the country. However, the escalating crisis—including mass kidnappings of schoolgirls and alarming jihadist assaults on churches—led him to delay his participation in the G20 and AU-EU summits scheduled for Wednesday.
Tinubu was initially set to travel to Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday for the G20 summit, then go to Luanda, Angola, for the AU-EU summit the following week.
Instead, he opted to postpone his trip to address the security situation in Kebbi and Kwara states. Recently, a band of attackers managed to breach a military checkpoint, invade a girls’ school, and tragically kidnap 25 students after killing several staff members, slipping away into the woods.
Fortunately, one of the kidnapped girls reportedly escaped her captors a few hours after the incident and returned home safely. As of Thursday, the kidnappers had not made their presence known or issued any demands.
Authorities have suggested that the attackers, many of whom are former pastoralists, have begun targeting rural communities following disputes over scarce resources, according to reports from Al Jazeera.
These “former nomads” are likely the Fulani, a predominantly Muslim group. Human rights organizations claim there has been a sustained effort to drive Christian communities off their land through violence.
Nigeria is currently entangled in a variety of crises: an Islamist insurgency in the northeast, armed groups conducting kidnappings and killings mainly in the northwest, and lethal clashes between Muslim pastoralists and Christian farmers in the central region, as reported by Reuters during discussions of Tinubu’s postponed visit.
On the same day as Tinubu’s announcement, gunmen, masked and armed with rifles and machetes, attacked a church in Kwara, killing at least three church members. Video footage depicted terrified congregants seeking cover as gunfire erupted, with children screaming in fear.
A community spokesperson indicated that at least ten worshippers from the Christian Apostolic Church were abducted during the assault. He lamented that urgent appeals for help to local and state officials were not met, although he acknowledged the police’s efforts in pursuing the attackers.
Hours after the church shooting, Tinubu’s office confirmed the death of a Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army, who had been kidnapped during an ambush by jihadists affiliated with the Islamic State West Africa Province. The general was reportedly interrogated before being killed.
The Nigerian military initially refuted claims of Uba’s abduction, but evidence released by the attackers contradicted this, prompting a delayed official acknowledgment from Tinubu. He expressed sorrow over the recent losses of soldiers and the impact of violence on young students, directing security forces to act swiftly to recover the abducted schoolgirls.
In early November, former President Donald Trump highlighted the situation, warning Tinubu’s government that if violence against Christians persisted, the U.S. would consider ceasing all aid and could potentially take military action against terrorists operating in Nigeria.
The Trump administration has classified Nigeria as a Country of Special Concern regarding religious persecution, citing ongoing kidnappings and killings of Christians.
In response, Tinubu and his government rejected the idea that Christians face systematic persecution, asserting that the threats of violence affect all Nigerians. He also regarded Trump’s remarks as a “threat” to Nigeria’s sovereignty, emphasizing the risk posed to the entire population.
Recent reports indicate that many Nigerians are becoming increasingly frustrated with government inaction against the violence, particularly following the church attack in Kwara, which some view as a tipping point.
Growing discontent is visible as videos of violent church incursions spread on social media, highlighting multiple threats ranging from jihadist insurgencies to violent banditry and kidnappings. Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar remarked that it is time for Tinubu to either seek assistance or step down.
