Segun Atanda/
President Bola Tinubu has expressed profound joy over the rescue of the pupils and teachers abducted from the Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, praising the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force for bringing the 56-day ordeal to an end without any collateral damage.
The President also acknowledged the role played by the Oyo State Government in the operation, commending Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration for working closely with the Federal Government throughout the rescue efforts.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president described the operation as a major victory for Nigeria’s security agencies, noting that eight of the abductors were arrested while others were neutralised during the intelligence-led mission.
“I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them,” the President said.
He added that the operation had finally ended weeks of anxiety for the victims, their families and the nation.
“This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular.
“On behalf of the country, I express my gratitude to the officers and men of our armed forces, the intelligence agencies and the police for the safe rescue of the children and their teachers.”
The President commended the security agencies for what he described as their heroic efforts, saying they worked tirelessly over the last 56 days to secure the victims’ freedom without any collateral damage.
According to the Presidency, the operation resulted in the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers, while others were killed during the rescue mission.
Tinubu also expressed sympathy to the victims and their families over the trauma they endured during their captivity.
He said: “My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered.”
The President equally recognised the cooperation of the Oyo State Government, describing it as instrumental to the successful outcome of the rescue operation.
“I must commend the Government of Oyo State for working cooperatively with us in bringing this unfortunate incident to a successful end,” he said.
He, however, urged the state government to strengthen security around schools to prevent a recurrence of such attacks.
To support the victims’ recovery, President Tinubu directed relevant emergency response agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide comprehensive medical care, counselling and other relief services for the rescued pupils and teachers.
The victims were abducted on May 15 when armed men attacked schools in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, triggering widespread outrage and prompting a major security operation involving the military, the DSS and the police.
Earlier on Friday, the Presidency disclosed that there was no quid pro quo in the rescue operation, saying the kidnappers’ demand for the release of one of their alleged kingpins, who is currently standing trial, was rejected.
It also confirmed that eight suspects were arrested and are in DSS custody, while other members of the gang were neutralised.
The successful operation brings to an end one of the most closely watched school abduction cases in recent months and marks a significant breakthrough in efforts to tackle kidnapping and terrorism in the country.
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