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By Lukman Olabiyi (Lagos), Noah Ebije (Kaduna), Sola Ojo, Abuja
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has praised the rescue of school children and teachers abducted from the Oriire area of Oyo State on May 15. He called on the Federal Government to sustain its offensive against terrorists across the country.
While Atiku described the rescue as a massive relief for families, a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, criticized the presidency’s timing.
Atiku noted that the victims regained freedom on the very day the All Progressives Congress (APC) launched its “Door-to-Door” campaign for the 2027 presidential election.
He argued that no serious government should focus on re-election campaigns while citizens remain in captivity, urging the President to lead from the front alongside defence chiefs.
The former Vice President praised the military but criticised the APC administration for launching 2027 campaigns on the day of the rescue instead of focusing entirely on national security.
In contrast, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, commended the successful rescue of the schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, describing the operation as a major breakthrough in the fight against insecurity. The victims regained their freedom after spending more than 55 days in captivity.
In a statement issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, the governor expressed relief and delight over the development, saying the successful operation underscored the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to protecting lives and combating insecurity across the country.
Sanwo-Olu praised the coordinated efforts of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, and other security agencies whose collaboration led to the safe rescue of the victims.
He also commended the Oyo State Government under Governor Seyi Makinde for its support throughout the rescue operation, noting that the successful outcome has renewed hope among the families of the victims and residents of Ogbomoso, as well as people across the South-West.
Presidential candidate of the Accord Party for the 2027 general election, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, while commending the successful rescue of the abducted school children and their teachers, said the operation demonstrated that the country’s security forces possess the capacity to defeat criminal gangs when given consistent political support.
In a statement, Hashim described the rescue as a significant victory for the nation and argued that Nigeria’s security challenges stem less from the competence of its armed forces than from the need for sustained political direction and unwavering leadership.
“We have never doubted the ability of Nigeria’s Defence Forces to secure the country. What has often been lacking is clarity of purpose and unwavering political leadership,” he said
In the same vein, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, called the operation a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to school safety. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, the Minister commended President Bola Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and the security forces for their coordinated, harm-free rescue operation. The Minister credited the success to seamless collaboration between the Federal Government, Governor Seyi Makinde, and security agencies.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA) also reacted to the development. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC celebrated the rescue after 56 days in captivity but reminded the government that prevention remains the primary duty. The party urged the administration to deploy the same urgency to rescue school children and citizens still held captive in Borno and Kaiama, Kwara State. HURMA’s Executive Director, Buna Olaitan Isiak, added that the swift security response successfully restored public confidence in the state’s capacity to protect lives.
The ADC and HURMA commended the troops but urged the government to show the same resolve in freeing hostages still held in Borno and Kwara states.
Similarly, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, described the rescue as a major security success made possible through effective collaboration among federal and state authorities, conventional security agencies and community-based security groups.
He said the operation reinforces the need for sustained cooperation among all stakeholders in tackling insecurity across the country, adding that the coordinated rescue effort reflects the collaborative security approach he has consistently advocated.
Adams applauded the Federal Government for its intervention, especially the deployment of a high-level delegation led by the National Security Adviser to coordinate the rescue mission.
He also praised the Oyo State Government for its proactive response and close collaboration with the Federal Government and security agencies, describing the partnership as a model worthy of emulation
The Yoruba leader further acknowledged the courage and commitment of the Amotekun Corps, vigilante groups and members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), noting that their knowledge of the local terrain played a crucial role in tracking the abductors and securing the victims’ release.
He particularly commended the Oyo State Government’s Integrated Security Concept, which brings together the military, police, DSS, NSCDC, Amotekun, OPC, Vigilante, Agbekoya and Soludero groups in a unified security framework.
Caught up in the joy of the rescue of the abducted school children, Arewa Youth Assembly (AYA) lauded Nigeria’s security agencies for the successful rescue, describing the operation as a significant breakthrough in the nation’s fight against kidnapping and banditry.
The Assembly also applauded the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers, noting that the operation demonstrated the growing effectiveness of intelligence-driven security interventions.
In a statement signed by its Speaker, Mohammed Salihu Danlami, the Assembly paid special tribute to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Ajayi Oluwatosin, for providing and coordinating the intelligence that made the rescue operation possible.
According to the Assembly, the seamless collaboration between intelligence agencies and security operatives reflects the renewed synergy within Nigeria’s security architecture and deserves national recognition.
The Nigerian Army, in a statement issued on Friday by the Acting Deputy Director, 2 Division Army Public Relations, Lt. Col. Danjuma Danjuma, disclosed that the operation involved personnel from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), particularly the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), the Defence Headquarters, Special Forces of the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Air Force, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), as well as local vigilantes, hunters and operatives of the Amotekun Corps.
