Tinubu Orders Rescue Mission for Abducted Pupils
By Auwal Abdullahi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered an intensive rescue operation to secure the release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in recent attacks in Oyo and Borno states, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting schools and combating terrorism across the country.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this on Thursday during a special national security briefing tagged “UniteAgainstTerror” at Radio House in Abuja.
According to the minister, the President has directed security agencies to deploy all lawful resources available to ensure the safe return of the victims and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Idris said Tinubu had also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security presence in vulnerable communities and forest areas, particularly in states facing heightened security threats.
He noted that the latest security concerns include the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State and a terrorist attack on a school in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where at least 42 children were reported missing.
“The safe return of every child and every teacher currently in captivity remains a top national priority,” Idris said, adding that the President had made it clear that “no child belongs in captivity.”
He disclosed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police Force, the National Intelligence Agency, the Office of the National Security Adviser and the National Counter Terrorism Centre are working in close coordination on intelligence gathering, surveillance and search-and-rescue operations.
The minister said the Tinubu administration has adopted an intelligence-driven approach to tackling insecurity while undertaking broader reforms of the nation’s security architecture, including plans for state policing.
He also highlighted recent successes against terrorist and criminal networks, including the elimination of more than 50 terrorists during recent military operations in Borno State and the rescue of dozens of civilians from captivity.
Idris urged Nigerians to support security agencies with credible information, stressing that defeating terrorism requires a collective national effort.
