President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has postponed his scheduled trips to Johannesburg, South Africa, and Luanda, Angola, to receive further security briefings following the abduction of schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the attack on worshippers at Christ Apostolic Church in Eruku, Kwara State.

The President, responding to a request by the Governor of Kwara State, has directed the military and police authorities to deploy additional personnel to Eruku and surrounding communities in the Ekiti Local Government Area. He further ordered an intensified manhunt for the bandits responsible for the church attack.

President Tinubu was earlier expected to depart Abuja today to attend the 20th G20 Leaders Summit in South Africa, after which he was billed to proceed to Angola for the 7th AU-EU Summit. However, disturbed by the recent security breaches, he suspended the trip to focus on national security developments.

The President is awaiting reports from Vice President Kashim Shettima—who visited Kebbi State on his behalf—as well as briefings from the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services regarding the Kwara attack.

President Tinubu reaffirmed his directive to security agencies to exhaust all resources to rescue the 24 abducted schoolgirls and ensure their safe return.

The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Bernard Doro as Nigeria’s new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had forwarded Doro’s name to the upper legislative chamber for screening and confirmation in a letter dated October 21, 2025.

Doro’s appointment comes in the wake of the election of Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in July, a development that created a ministerial vacancy in the humanitarian affairs portfolio.

During Thursday’s plenary session, senators deliberated on the President’s request before unanimously confirming Doro’s nomination through a voice vote.

With his confirmation, Doro is expected to oversee ongoing humanitarian interventions, coordinate poverty reduction programs, and strengthen the government’s response to social welfare challenges across the country.

*** Moves Prerogative of Mercy Secretariat to Justice Ministry

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed the official instruments of clemency and pardon for selected individuals, completing the formal process of exercising his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy.

The decision followed consultations with the Council of State and a review of public opinion, according to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.

Under the review, individuals convicted of serious offences such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms were removed from the list of beneficiaries. Others who had previously been pardoned had their sentences commuted.

Onanuga said the review was guided by considerations of national security, the feelings of victims, the morale of law enforcement agencies, and Nigeria’s international obligations. He added that the concept of justice as a “three-way traffic” — involving the accused, the victim, and the state — informed the President’s decision.

The approved list of eligible beneficiaries has been forwarded to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation.

In a related directive, President Tinubu ordered the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The President also instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue new guidelines for exercising the power of mercy, mandating consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies to ensure that only qualified individuals benefit from future clemency exercises.

Tinubu expressed appreciation for the feedback received from stakeholders and the public, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to judicial reform and the improvement of Nigeria’s justice system.