FG delegation visits communities of Oyo abducted school children, assures of rescue

President Bola Tinubu has assured families of pupils and teachers abducted during attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State that the Federal Government is intensifying efforts to secure their release, even as a high-powered delegation from the Presidency visited the affected communities.

The assurance was conveyed by the President’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, during a visit to Ogbomoso and the affected communities of Esiele and Yawota, where gunmen recently invaded three schools and reportedly abducted about 46 pupils and teachers.

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Addressing distraught families and community members, Gbajabiamila said President Tinubu was closely monitoring developments and had directed security agencies to take all necessary measures to ensure the safe rescue of those still in captivity.

“Don’t be scared or worried, we are on top of the situation. Your children will be rescued soonest. For those who were killed, we will go and see the families, and I am certain this will not repeat itself,” he said.

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The presidential delegation was led by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and included the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu; Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa; Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe; and the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare.

The visit followed growing public concern over the attack on the schools in Esiele and Yawota villages, an incident that has reignited fears over the safety of educational institutions and the vulnerability of rural communities to criminal attacks.

Members of the delegation met with local leaders, security officials and affected families as part of efforts to assess the security situation and coordinate an enhanced response to the crisis.

The school attack is the latest in a series of incidents targeting educational institutions across the country, raising fresh concerns about the implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative and the broader challenge of insecurity in rural areas.

While security agencies have yet to provide detailed information on ongoing rescue operations, the Chief of staff to the president officials residents that efforts were being intensified to secure the release of the abductees and prevent a recurrence of such attacks.

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