Senator Orji Uzor Kalu Hails Tinubu’s ‘Fatherly Care’ in Canceling Trips Amid Kebbi Schoolgirls Kidnapping Crisis
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has commended President Bola Tinubu for scrapping his South Africa and Angola trips to focus on the Kebbi schoolgirls abduction, calling it a display of “concern and fatherly care” for the victims. As Nigeria grapples with rising banditry, Kalu urged unity against insecurity, with the Senate pushing for 100,000 new troops. VP Shettima visited families on Tinubu’s behalf after security advisors blocked the president’s trip. Get the full story on the November 2025 crisis, reactions, and calls for action.
ABUJA, Nigeria – Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North, has praised President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing national security by canceling high-profile international trips in response to the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State. Describing the move as a demonstration of “fatherly care” for the kidnapped children, Kalu highlighted Tinubu’s leadership amid a wave of insecurity that has gripped the nation. The decision came as Vice President Kashim Shettima visited affected families, underscoring the administration’s commitment to the crisis. (58 words)
The Kebbi Abduction: A Stark Reminder of Nigeria’s Security Woes
The crisis erupted on November 18, 2025, when gunmen stormed the Government Girls Comprehensive Senior Secondary School in Maga, Danko Wasagu Local Government Area of Kebbi State, abducting at least 25 female students. Eyewitnesses reported the attackers, suspected to be bandits on motorcycles, overwhelmed the school’s minimal security, bundling the girls into vehicles before vanishing into nearby forests. This incident, eerily reminiscent of the 2014 Chibok kidnapping that claimed over 200 girls, has reignited national outrage and fears over the vulnerability of educational institutions.
The attack occurred amid a broader surge in banditry across Nigeria’s northwest, where resource disputes between herders and farmers often fuel violence. In Kebbi alone, over 150 abductions have been recorded in 2025, per local reports, with ransom demands escalating to millions of naira. UNICEF swiftly condemned the raid, stating, “No child should be at risk while pursuing education,” and called for immediate rescue efforts. Security forces launched a joint operation involving the army, police, and vigilantes, but as of November 20, no breakthroughs were reported, leaving parents in anguish.
This event compounds recent horrors, including the November 17 attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State, where several were killed or injured. The dual incidents prompted a national security alert, halting public events like Taraba State’s APC defection ceremony.
Tinubu’s Decisive Pivot: Trips Scrapped for Crisis Management
President Tinubu was set to depart Abuja on November 19 for the 20th G20 Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, followed by the 7th AU-EU Summit in Luanda, Angola—key platforms for advancing Nigeria’s economic and diplomatic agendas. However, in a swift reversal announced that afternoon, the trips were indefinitely postponed, with Tinubu citing the “escalating security challenges” as his rationale.
Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, confirmed the decision, noting Tinubu’s directive for security agencies to prioritize the girls’ safe return. Initially, Tinubu planned a personal visit to Kebbi to console families, but security advisors deemed it too risky amid the fluid situation, opting instead for VP Shettima’s delegation. Shettima met with distraught parents, community leaders, and Governor Nasir Idris, promising enhanced intelligence and resources for the rescue.
This isn’t Tinubu’s first such sacrifice; earlier in 2025, he curtailed overseas engagements during floods in Borno. Critics, however, question if these gestures translate to systemic fixes, with opposition figures like Atiku Abubakar decrying the “recurring nightmare” of school abductions.
- Key Timeline of Events:
- November 18: Gunmen abduct 25+ girls from Maga school.
- November 19: Tinubu cancels G20 and AU-EU trips; Shettima dispatched to Kebbi.
- November 20: Senate debates insecurity; Kalu issues praise.
- Ongoing: Joint security ops in forests; ransom rumors swirl.
Kalu’s Effusive Praise: ‘Leadership, Concern, and Fatherly Care’
In a statement that resonated across political divides, Senator Kalu lauded Tinubu’s response as exemplary, telling reporters, “President Tinubu has shown leadership, shown concern, fatherly care for the children kidnapped in Kebbi. This is exactly how it should be.” The Abia North lawmaker, a vocal APC supporter, emphasized the president’s “sleepless nights” over the issue, noting the somber mood in the National Assembly mirrored Tinubu’s distress.
Kalu, who has long advocated depoliticizing security, used the moment to rally unity: “The situation has reached a stage where unity, cooperation, and timely decision-making are essential.” He urged citizens to aid security forces with intelligence and called on leaders to emulate Tinubu’s urgency. This praise aligns with Kalu’s pattern of backing the administration, as seen in his June 2025 endorsement of Tinubu’s 2027 bid, though he insists it’s driven by national interest, not sycophancy.
Notably, Kalu critiqued state governors for shirking security duties during Senate debates, arguing, “Protection of citizens is not solely the federal government’s responsibility.” His comments drew mixed reactions, with some hailing the bipartisanship and others seeing it as deflecting from federal shortcomings.
Senate’s Robust Response: 100,000 Troops and Safe School Probe
The upper chamber didn’t stop at words. On November 19, following a motion by Senator Abdullahi Yahaya (APC, Kebbi North), the Senate urged Tinubu to greenlight recruiting 100,000 youths into the armed forces to alleviate overstretched forces. They also mandated an ad hoc committee to audit the Safe School Initiative’s funds, questioning why billions allocated since 2014 haven’t fortified schools against raids.
Former Senate President Ahmad Lawan lamented, “These children are the leaders of tomorrow. We must do everything possible to protect them,” while Senator Aminu Tambuwal warned of falling into “enemies’ traps” without unity. The resolutions call for deploying surveillance tech and community policing, reflecting a multi-pronged strategy.
Governor Idris echoed these sentiments, vowing state-federal collaboration and banning night travel in affected areas. Rights groups like Amnesty International pressed for accountability, estimating over 2,000 child abductions nationwide in 2025.
- Senate Demands at a Glance:
- Recruit 100,000 troops immediately.
- Probe Safe School funds utilization.
- Enhance surveillance and intelligence sharing.
- Urge governors to bolster local security.
Broader Implications: Unity Calls Amid Political Mourning
Kalu’s endorsement arrives against a backdrop of national grief, including the November 18 death of Senator Okey Ezea (LP, Enugu North), whom Kalu mourned as a “brother and friend.” This tragedy, unrelated but compounding the somber tone, saw cross-party tributes, hinting at potential for insecurity to bridge divides.
Public discourse on X and traditional media amplifies Kalu’s message, with hashtags like #RescueKebbiGirls trending. Comedians like AY Makun and BBNaija’s Tochi voiced solidarity, blending humor with heartache to spotlight the human cost. As operations continue, the focus shifts to results—will Tinubu’s resolve yield rescues, or deepen frustrations?
In summation, Senator Kalu’s praise for President Tinubu’s canceled trips underscores a pivotal moment of leadership amid Kebbi’s heartbreak, blending empathy with urgent calls for action. As the Senate mobilizes and families wait, this crisis tests Nigeria’s resolve: Unity against insecurity could heal wounds, but only swift rescues and reforms will restore faith in safer tomorrows.
For updates on the Kebbi rescue efforts, visit The Cable’s security coverage.