…commends Tinubu, military, IGP, DSS, others
By Adeola Badru
As the release of pupils and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State continues to draw widespread reactions, Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, on Saturday said the Federal Government refused to accede to the terrorists’ demands because doing so would have encouraged criminal enterprise and strengthened the operations of bandits across Nigeria.
In a statement issued by his media office, Igboho said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, maintained that paying ransom or releasing detained terrorists in exchange for the victims’ freedom would embolden criminality and further finance the deadly operations of bandits across the country.
The pupils and teachers of Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esinele; LA Primary School; and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, were abducted on 15 May 2026 and held captive for 56 days before they were rescued on Friday by a combined security team.
Reacting to their release, Igboho commended what he described as the military’s “highly wired diplomacy, intelligence-driven tactics” deployed to secure the freedom of the abducted victims.
He said: “I want to commend the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the military, the Police, Department of State Security and other paramilitary agencies for their painstaking efforts, which resulted in freedom for the pupils and their teachers.
“This development not only brought relief and joy to their distraught families, it has also rekindled hope of the citizenry in the commitment of the Federal Government to tackle criminality and ensure safe and secure environment.
“It is also crucial to laud the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd), the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, the military, the National Security Adviser, Department of State Service (DSS), and heads of all security agencies for their seamless collaboration, which culminated in the release of all pupils and their teachers.”
Igboho further stated: “Since the day the pupils were abducted, Tinubu has spared no effort to ensure their release. I want to emphatically state and assure that government’s resolve to tackle criminal networks in Oke-Ogun, Oyo State, and Nigeria as a whole are not in doubt.
“The Federal Government’s current synergy with local security organisations to confront criminals in communities will continue unabated as we are absolutely committed to explore all legal means to create conducive environments for farmers and inhabitants of rural communities in the South West.”
He also expressed confidence in the Federal Government’s commitment to restoring security in Oke-Ogun and other parts of the country through sustained collaboration between security agencies and local security organisations.
Igboho, however, sympathised with the families of those who lost their loved ones during the Oriire abduction ordeal, particularly teacher Michael Oyedokun, who was beheaded by the terrorists.
