The Federal Government and the Oyo State Government have intensified efforts to rescue abducted pupils, teachers and school administrators kidnapped during coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The husband of one of the abducted principals, Professor Wole Alamu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a telephone interview with Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, saying security agencies were working tirelessly behind the scenes to secure the victims’ release.
Professor Alamu, whose wife, Mrs Folawe Alamu, principal of Community Grammar School, Esiele, was among those abducted, appealed to Nigerians to avoid making statements capable of jeopardising the ongoing rescue operations.
“We are going to grant interview, but not now. The work is seriously being done underneath. Anything you say now may jeopardise the rescue operations,” he said.
He also commended Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, alongside security operatives, for what he described as coordinated and relentless efforts to ensure the safe return of the victims.
The abduction incident, which has generated widespread outrage, reportedly occurred after armed hoodlums attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, and L.A Primary School in the Esiele community.
During the attack, a teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun was reportedly killed, while dozens of pupils, teachers and school administrators were abducted and taken into the forest.
The Oyo State Police Command had earlier confirmed the killing of an assistant headmaster identified as Mr Adesiyan and an okada rider during the invasion.
A viral video circulated online on Friday showed the abducted principal, Mrs Alamu, appealing emotionally to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, security agencies, the Christian Association of Nigeria and well meaning Nigerians to intervene and facilitate their rescue.
In the footage, the visibly distressed principal said the victims had remained in captivity since the attack on the schools.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified operations across the affected communities and surrounding forest corridors believed to be harbouring the abductors.
The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, was also reported to have arrived in Oyo State to personally oversee a technology driven rescue operation involving the deployment of the police Intelligence Response Team.
Governor Makinde equally disclosed that two newly acquired surveillance aircraft were being prepared to provide aerial intelligence over forest areas suspected to be hideouts of the kidnappers.
Security agencies also revealed that several suspects had been arrested for allegedly acting as informants to the abductors by helping them navigate routes within the Old Oyo National Park.
The Oyo State Government, however, maintained that although it remained open to dialogue aimed at securing the release of the victims, it would not pay ransom to the kidnappers.
Reacting to the development, President Bola Tinubu condemned the killing of one of the abducted teachers, describing the act as barbaric.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President assured Nigerians that security agencies were working round the clock to rescue the remaining victims and apprehend those behind the attack.
“The IGP, following my instructions, is personally leading the tech driven operation. We expect a breakthrough soon. The bandits and all their local collaborators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement read.
Tinubu also reiterated the need for the establishment of state police, urging the National Assembly to accelerate legislative processes towards its creation as part of efforts to tackle insecurity across underserved communities in the country.
