The successful rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oyo State is a “major victory” that proves kidnappers can be defeated without paying ransoms, a prominent political support group has said.
The Tinubu Stakeholders Forum (TSF) welcomed the safe recovery of the children and their teachers, who were freed after 56 days in captivity following an operation in the Old Oyo National Park forest.
In a joint statement, TSF Chairman Ahmad Sajoh and Secretary Danjuma Sada said the operation validated President Bola Tinubu’s intelligence-led security strategy and his firm stance against paying criminals.
“The fact that the victims were rescued without ransom payment validates the federal government’s policy that terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers must not be allowed to profit from the abduction of innocent citizens,” the statement said.
‘A highly professional operation’
The forum praised the joint efforts of the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
According to the group, the operation succeeded because of:
- Inter-agency cooperation: Seamless collaboration between federal intelligence agencies and the Oyo State government.
- Zero collateral damage: The safe retrieval of all hostages without harm during the final rescue phase.
- Targeted arrests: The neutralization of several terrorists and the arrest of eight suspected kidnappers.
The group also backed the president’s directive to provide the rescued victims with immediate medical care and psycho-social support before they are reunited with their families.
‘Sensational’ claims condemned
The TSF used the statement to heavily criticise activists and commentators who had claimed during the 56-day ordeal that the hostages had been moved to northern Nigeria.
The group described the dissemination of unverified regional narratives as “reckless and irresponsible,” arguing that such claims only serve to inflame regional tensions and spread fear.
“The rescue of the victims from the Old Oyo National Park forest exposed the widely circulated claims as false,” the TSF said, calling on those who spread the rumors to apologize to the public.
The forum urged the government to build on the lessons of the rescue by boosting security around schools and strengthening intelligence sharing across the country.
Add Comment