The Nigeria Police Force has assured Nigerians that efforts are being intensified to secure the release of dozens of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, as authorities move to strengthen security operations across the country through the planned recruitment of 40,000 additional personnel.
The reassurance came amid growing concerns over the fate of 39 students and seven teachers who were kidnapped by armed men during coordinated attacks on several schools in Oyo State earlier in June. The incident sparked widespread outrage and renewed fears over the safety of educational institutions in the South-West region.
Speaking to journalists during a working visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the South-West and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Adegoke Fayoade, said security agencies were working around the clock to ensure the safe return of the victims.
According to the senior police officer, the rescue mission is being carried out in collaboration with other security agencies and relevant government institutions. He expressed optimism that the abducted children and their teachers would regain their freedom soon, stressing that the preservation of their lives remains the overriding priority of the operation.
“All agencies, including the government, are working very hard, and I can assure you that within the shortest possible time, the children and their teachers will be free,” Fayoade stated.
The DIG reiterated the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to eliminating criminal activities in the South-West, noting that intelligence-driven operations and enhanced cooperation among security agencies would lead to a major crackdown on kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminal elements operating within the region.
As part of broader efforts to tackle rising security challenges nationwide, Fayoade revealed that plans are underway to recruit an additional 40,000 police personnel. He explained that the move is aimed at boosting manpower, strengthening operational efficiency and improving the capacity of the police to respond effectively to emerging threats across the country.
According to him, increasing the number of officers would enable the force to enhance community policing, intelligence gathering and rapid response capabilities, particularly in vulnerable areas where criminal activities have become more pronounced.
The police chief also addressed concerns over the effectiveness of law enforcement operations in Lagos and other parts of the South-West since the #EndSARS protests of 2020. He rejected claims that police intelligence and tracking capabilities had diminished following the destruction of facilities and equipment during the protests.
Fayoade insisted that recent successes recorded in crime detection, arrests and rescue operations across the country have demonstrated that intelligence-led policing remains effective. He maintained that the force has continued to modernise its operations through technological innovations and improved information management systems.
The abduction in Oriire Local Government Area has once again highlighted the growing threat posed by kidnappers targeting schools and vulnerable communities. Security analysts have repeatedly called for stronger protection around educational institutions, improved surveillance systems and closer collaboration between local communities and security agencies to prevent similar incidents.
Parents and residents of the affected communities have continued to express anxiety over the prolonged captivity of the students and teachers, urging the authorities to secure their release without delay. Human rights groups and education stakeholders have also warned that recurring attacks on schools could undermine access to education and deepen fears among pupils, teachers and parents.
With security agencies maintaining that rescue efforts are progressing, many Nigerians are hoping for the safe return of the victims and more effective measures to curb the increasing wave of kidnappings and violent crimes across the country.
