A presidential delegation led by Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff (CoS) to President Bola Tinubu, and Nuhu Ribadu, national security adviser (NSA), has visited Ogbomoso, Oyo state, following the abduction of pupils, students and teachers from schools in Oriire LGA by suspected bandits.
The victims were kidnapped on May 15 after gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire LGA.
At least 45 schoolchildren and teachers were reportedly abducted during the attack.
Tunji Disu, the inspector-general of police (IGP), and Christopher Musa, the minister of defence, were part of the delegation that met with community leaders and families of abducted teachers, students and pupils.
In a post on X on Sunday, Olusegun Dada, special assistant to the president on social media, said, “the visit comes several weeks after the initial visit of the Inspector General of Police, on the orders of President Tinubu, and a swift commencement of rescue operations by the Nigerian Military.”
The presidential delegation’s visit also came two days after teachers and members of the civil society organisations (CSOs) protested in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, calling on the government to take urgent steps to rescue the abducted teachers and schoolchildren.
The protest was organised by the Oyo State Teachers Action Group in collaboration with the Nigeria Teachers Congress (NTC), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has directed the deployment of a “specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities” to intensify efforts to secure the release pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Ogbomoso, Oriire LGA of Oyo state.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu has also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in collaboration with the state government to intensify the search and rescue efforts.
