President Bola Tinubu has made a fresh declaration concerning the recent kidnapping of teachers and pupils in Oyo State by gunmen suspected to be terrorists, expressing sympathy with the victims and their families.
The President, in a statement on Monday via his Account, stressed that no parent should have to endure the anguish of having his/her child kidnapped.
He also added that no child should be taken away from the safety of the classroom.
This online medium reports that President Tinubu made the submissions amidst ongoing efforts to secure the release of teachers and pupils kidnapped by bandits in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
He reiterated that, among other steps taken, he has ordered the deployment of a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to secure the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers.
According to the President, rescue efforts will be intelligence-led, careful, coordinated, and sustained until the victims return home safely.
“At my direction, following the visit of a high-level Federal Government delegation that I sent to the Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, I have approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in collaboration with the Oyo State Government.
“I have also directed the deployment of a specialised security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to secure the safe return of the abducted pupils and teachers.
“The communities’ request for the establishment of a military base in the area is receiving urgent consideration.
“I share the pain and anxiety of the affected families. No child should be taken from the safety of a classroom. No parent should have to endure this anguish.
“Our rescue efforts will be intelligence-led, careful, coordinated, and sustained. We will deploy every lawful tool available, both kinetic and non-kinetic, to ensure our children and teachers are safely returned home.
“I also extend my deepest condolences to Mrs Mary Oyedokun, the wife of the late school teacher and her family. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten, and his family will not be abandoned,” Tinubu wrote in the personally signed statement.
Recall that the victims were abducted on May 15 from schools in Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities in Oriire Local Government Area, triggering widespread concern and prompting the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) to direct school teachers across the state to embark on an indefinite strike.
