Oyo Kidnapping: Police assure citizens of safe return of abducted pupils and teachers

The Deputy Inspector-General of Police for the South-West, Adegoke Fayoade, has told Nigerians that the more than 40 pupils and teachers taken from schools in Oyo State will be released soon. This comes as security agencies ramp up efforts to rescue them.

Mr Fayoade spoke on Monday, as worries grew about the abducted victims who were taken during a recent attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

The kidnapping has caught national attention, causing protests and renewed calls for better security in schools. This is especially important in rural areas that are more at risk of attacks by armed groups.

Both the police and the governments at the federal and state levels have repeatedly raised hopes for the quick release of those taken.

During a visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, the DIG said that all security agencies and government officials are working hard to get the victims back.

"The update is that all agencies, including the government, are working very hard. And I can assure you within the shortest possible time, the children and their teachers will be free," he stated.

Mr Fayoade did not comment on reports that the kidnappers had made demands for ransom or the release of their associates.

"We don’t know anything about ransom because we don’t talk about ransom. So, all efforts are directed towards getting the abductees free from the capture," he mentioned.

This assurance comes just days after Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde revealed that a Nigerian Army lieutenant was killed during rescue attempts for the victims.

Speaking to protesters in Ibadan last week, Mr Makinde noted that security personnel are risking their lives to bring the abducted students and school officials back home safely.

The governor also promised that Oyo State would not see a repeat of the 2014 Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction. He assured residents that officials are using all available resources to solve the problem.

The victims were taken during coordinated attacks on schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15. Armed men invaded communities, killed a teacher, and marched over 40 pupils and teachers into a forest.

The incident sparked widespread outrage and raised concerns about the increasing insecurity around schools in parts of the South-West.

In response, the Oyo State House of Assembly recently called for better security measures in schools across the state. This includes sending security personnel to vulnerable communities and schools located near forests.

Besides the rescue operation, Mr Fayoade said the Nigeria Police Force is also working on broader reforms to improve policing in the South-West.

He shared that ongoing efforts include recruiting more personnel, better welfare packages for officers, enhanced intelligence gathering, and increased use of technology to fight crime.

The DIG revealed that the Force is developing a national data system to help security agencies share information better and enhance crime detection.

"Top on the list is looking at how we are going to improve manpower because we are aware that 40,000 policemen will be recruited, and it has even started. Another area of importance is talking about the welfare of the men, which is paramount to the Inspector-General of Police," he said.

"The Inspector-General is passionate about technology. We have a data centre at the force headquarters which we are working on to complete. Other security agencies will be able to feed into it and get information about Nigerians who have committed crimes in the past."

He added that police officers will soon start special training on using artificial intelligence in criminal investigations and intelligence gathering. "We are becoming technology-driven, and we are working on that very fast," he said.

While acknowledging that security challenges are still present, Mr Fayoade insisted that law enforcement agencies are achieving significant successes through intelligence-led operations. He promised continued efforts to improve public safety across the region.