President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate deployment of a specialised security rescue unit and authorised the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State to secure the safe release of the 46 pupils and teachers abducted from the Oriire Local Government Area.
The directives were announced on Sunday, during a high-powered Federal Government delegation’s visit to the affected communities of Esiele and Yawota, where armed men raided three schools on May 15.
The delegation was led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and included National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, and Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Musa.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, the delegation conveyed the president’s deep concern and outlined immediate tactical measures being taken.
Addressing residents and community leaders, Gbajabiamila assured families that the rescue operation would be carefully coordinated using advanced tracking intelligence, factoring in appeals from parents to ensure the children’s safety during the extraction.
“Mr. President is deeply troubled by this incident,” Gbajabiamila said. “Whatever it takes, our children and teachers will be brought back home safely. Let me assure you that the operation will be intelligence-led and carefully coordinated, deploying both kinetic and non-kinetic measures.”
In addition to deploying the elite rescue unit, the Federal Government is partnering with the Oyo State government to recruit 1,000 forest guards to flush out criminal elements from the area’s vast forest reserves. The delegation also revealed that a formal community request to establish a permanent military base in the area is being forwarded to President Tinubu for approval.
As part of the visit, the delegation paid a condolence visit to the palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye. They also met with Mrs. Mary Oyedokun, the widow of a schoolteacher killed during the raid, with Gbajabiamila delivering the President’s personal condolences and an assurance that the federal government will support the grieving family.
