Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says President Bola Tinubu has ordered a full-scale rescue operation for the abducted Ogbomoso and Borno schoolchildren.
Idris spoke in Abuja on Thursday during a press conference on national security tagged #UniteAgainstTerror.
The minister’s comments come amid growing public concern over the rising wave of attacks on schools across the country, which has triggered protests in several locations, including the nation’s capital, since Monday.
On May 15, gunmen abducted about 39 students and seven teachers from three schools in Oriire LGA of Oyo state.
Two people were killed during the attack on one of the schools, while Michael Oyedokun, one of the abducted teachers, was later killed in captivity.
In a separate incident in mid-May, about 42 children were reportedly abducted from a school in Askira-Uba LGA of Borno state.
Addressing the incidents, Idris said the abductions are not merely attacks on communities and families but assaults on the future of the country, education and the values that bind citizens together.
He, however, on behalf of the president, assured that “the safe return of every child and every teacher currently in captivity remains a top national priority”.
“The president has made it clear that no child belongs in captivity and that no effort will be spared in ensuring that those responsible for these heinous crimes are brought to justice,” the minister added.
“He has directed that every lawful instrument available to the Nigerian state be deployed towards achieving this objective, including the deployment of a specialised rescue team.”
The minister said the president has also authorised the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security presence across vulnerable communities and forests.
He noted that the Borno attack bears the familiar signature of terrorist groups that have for years sought to undermine education and destabilise communities in the north-east.
“While operational details cannot be disclosed for security reasons, I can assure Nigerians that multiple security and intelligence agencies are working in close coordination,” he said.
“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 actively involved in ongoing efforts.
“Intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance, community engagement, and search-and-rescue operations are continuing without interruption.”
