By Miriam Humbe
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed delight over the rescue of the school children and teachers abducted from the Oriire community in Ogbomoso, Oyo State.
Tinubu commended the military, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force for securing their freedom after 56 days in captivity.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the operation as a major victory against criminality, and was further delighted that the security agencies rescued the victims without collateral damage.
According to the statement, the operation also led to the arrest of eight suspected abductors, while others were neutralised during the rescue mission.
President Tinubu sympathised with the rescued children, their teachers and their families over the trauma they endured during the period of captivity.
He said: ”I am profoundly happy that our security forces successfully rescued the abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire, Ogbomoso in Oyo State today after a military, police and intelligence-driven operation that neutralised some of the terrorists that perpetrated the evil act and the arrest of eight of them”.
Tinubu said that the operation had brought an end to “the siege and standoff of over 50 days” and commended members of the Armed Forces, Intelligence Agencies and the Police for their professionalism.
He said: “This successful military operation has ended the siege and standoff of over 50 days and has brought relief to the entire nation and the affected families in particular.
“On behalf of the country, I express my gratitude to the officers and men of our armed forces, the intelligence agencies and the police for the safe rescue of the children and their teachers”.
President Tinubu assured the victims that justice would be served, including for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who was reportedly killed by the abductors.
He said: ”My government will get justice for these children and their teachers and for the family of Mr Oyedokun, who the terrorists gruesomely murdered”.
The President also commended the Oyo State Government for its cooperation throughout the rescue operation, saying: “I must commend the government of Oyo State for working cooperatively with us in bringing this unfortunate incident to a successful end”.
He urged the State to strengthen security around schools to prevent similar incidents.
President Tinubu further directed relevant Emergency Management Agencies to work with the Oyo State Government to provide the rescued pupils and teachers with the necessary medical care, psychosocial support and other relief assistance.
