The freed pupils and teacher. Credit: Nigerian Army
The rescue of 44 pupils and teachers abducted in Oyo State after 56 days in captivity has sparked fresh pressure on President Bola Tinubu and security agencies to launch similar operations to free hundreds of other schoolchildren, women and other Nigerians still being held by terrorists across the country.
Sunday PUNCH findings revealed that families of abducted victims, religious and community leaders, civil society organisations and opposition politicians are urging the Federal Government to replicate the successful intelligence-led operation that secured the release of the Oyo victims in Borno, Kwara and other states, where scores of victims have remained in captivity for months.
The renewed calls followed Friday’s announcement by security agencies that all those abducted during coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15 had regained their freedom without the payment of ransom.
The operation, described by security authorities as intelligence-led and jointly executed by the military, the Department of State Services and the police, has been widely hailed as evidence that coordinated security efforts can deliver results when backed by political will and effective intelligence.
But even as Nigerians celebrated the breakthrough, attention quickly shifted to dozens of other abducted victims across the country whose families say they are still waiting for their loved ones’ safe return.
Borno victims’ families plead for equal attention
In Borno State, where 78 students remain in captivity following separate Boko Haram attacks on schools in Askira/Uba Local Government Area, parents said the Oyo rescue had rekindled hope but also deepened their frustration over what they described as prolonged silence regarding their children’s fate.
On May 16, suspected Boko Haram insurgents attacked Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, abducting 42 pupils.
Barely six weeks later, on June 29, terrorists again invaded Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in the same local government area, abducting 36 students and a teacher.
Speaking with Sunday PUNCH on behalf of the affected families, Ibrahim Millam, whose daughter, Esther Ibrahim, is among the students abducted in Lassa, said the parents had received no meaningful update from the authorities since the attack.
He said the prolonged silence from security agencies had left the families devastated.
“Since they took my daughter, Esther, and her fellow students, we have not received any information.
“It has been silence; no information about their whereabouts. We commend the Federal Government for rescuing the Oyo students. Please, our children should not be allowed to die in captivity. They are our hope. We are not at peace in our homes,” Millam said.
Another resident of the Mussa community, Sani Abdullahi, told Sunday PUNCH that the continued captivity of the pupils had thrown many families into emotional turmoil.
“It is unfortunate that our children are still in captivity after almost two months. Parents are losing hope. If you visit the families now, it is tears upon tears.
“As a community, we don’t even know where to start anymore or who will come to our aid,” he said.
According to him, community leaders had repeatedly reached out to the relevant authorities without tangible results.
“We have held meetings and sent our pleas through representatives to the government, yet there has been continued silence. All we get is assurance. When are they coming back?” Abdullahi asked.
‘If Oyo could do it, why not Kwara?’
The rescue in Oyo has also renewed pressure over the fate of the 176 women and children abducted from Woro and neighbouring Nuku communities in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State during one of the deadliest terrorist attacks recorded in the state earlier this year.
Between February 3 and 4, heavily armed terrorists invaded the communities, reportedly killing more than 200 residents, burning homes, markets and public buildings, and displacing thousands.
Subsequent videos released by the terrorists showed the captives being held under harsh conditions in a forest, while later messages threatened their execution if certain demands were not met.
Although President Bola Tinubu later approved the deployment of additional troops and specialised tactical teams to Kwara North, relatives of the victims say little progress has been made towards securing their freedom nearly six months after the attack.
In an appeal signed on behalf of residents of Kaiama, Woro and Yashikira Emirate, Comrade M.Z. Shero urged the President, the National Security Adviser, the Kwara State Government, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and security agencies to immediately launch a coordinated rescue mission.
“Our hearts are heavy as we await news of 176 innocent citizens currently in captivity from Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area and 11 members of a family from Yashikira Emirate.
“We know the government has the capacity and resources to rescue our people. Every hour counts. Every life matters,” he stated.
A stakeholder from Kaiama, Usman Zakari, said residents celebrated the Oyo rescue because it restored hope that their loved ones could also regain their freedom.
“Everybody in Kaiama community was excited by the news. It reignited our hope that our people will also be rescued from captivity.”
He urged the Kwara State Government to strengthen collaboration with the Federal Government and security agencies.
“Such operations can be replicated when there is strong cooperation between the state and Federal governments. These rescue operations bring glory to the President and hope to Nigerians,” Zakari said.
Asked whether relatives still had contact with the abductees, Zakari said information remained scarce.
“The only communication came when the terrorists released a video threatening that, if ransom was not paid, that would be the last time we would see our people,” he added.
The Chief Imam of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Dr Sanusi Lafiagi, speaking with Sunday PUNCH, congratulated the President and security agencies on the successful rescue of the Oyo victims but appealed for similar efforts in Kwara.
“I join millions of well-meaning Nigerians in celebrating the successful rescue of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers.
“Please, sir, I want to remind you of the 176 women and children from Woro who have remained in captivity since February, as well as other kidnap victims from Kwara North. They equally deserve to be rescued and reunited with their families,” he appealed.
Lafiagi warned that the government must prevent the tragedy from becoming another prolonged national crisis.
“We cannot afford another Chibok or Dapchi experience,” he said.
An Ilorin-based public affairs analyst, Abdulrasaq Olanrewaju, also said the Oyo operation deserved commendation but questioned why similar urgency had not been demonstrated in Kwara.
“The successful rescue operation in Oyo is welcome news and deserves applause. Every life saved is a victory.
“But if such coordinated action could produce results in Oyo, why are the abductees from Woro, who were kidnapped much earlier, still waiting?” he asked.
According to him, differences in public attention partly explain the contrasting outcomes.
“In Oyo, sustained media coverage, protests and public advocacy kept the issue in the national consciousness.
“In Kwara, many people are afraid to organise sustained public campaigns because they fear intimidation. That fear weakens public pressure and allows the issue to gradually disappear from the national headlines,” Olanrewaju said.
Hope fades in Kaduna
In Kaduna State, nearly three months after bandits attacked Easter Sunday worshippers in Ariko Community, Kachia Local Government Area, families of those abducted say their hope is fading amid reports that some captives may have died in the kidnappers’ camp.
The gunmen invaded First ECWA Church and St Augustine Catholic Church during Easter Sunday services, abducting scores of worshippers.
The Village Head of Ariko, Joshua Doka, told Sunday PUNCH that the last proof of life came through an audio message purportedly sent by one of the abductees, who claimed that some of the captives had died from hunger, illness and the harsh conditions in captivity.
He said the community had not received any recent update from the Kaduna State Government regarding efforts to secure the victims’ release.
“They are still demanding N1bn and 35 motorcycles and have refused to reduce the ransom despite all our appeals,” Doka said.
According to him, all communication with the victims has been through the kidnappers.
“We are pleading with the Federal Government, the Kaduna State Government and the security agencies to rescue our people before more lives are lost,” Doka added.
Replicate Oyo model – Analysts
A public affairs analyst based in Maiduguri, Abubakar Kareto, described the successful rescue in Oyo as encouraging but said it should become a template for operations elsewhere.
“Indeed, the successful rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area after 56 days was a major victory and a thing of joy for Nigeria and Nigerians.
“The rescue, which was achieved through the joint efforts of the military, police and the DSS, has restored hope,” he said.
Kareto, however, warned against allowing other kidnapping cases to slip into public forgetfulness.
“While celebrating the rescue in the South-West, let us not forget that over 40 students abducted in Borno State during their NECO examinations around the same period are still being held captive. This highlights the need for equal security attention across regions,” he said.
The analyst called on the Federal Government to immediately deploy similar intelligence-led operations in Borno.
“The successful intelligence-led rescue model used in Oyo must be immediately deployed in Borno. The government must proactively enforce the Safe Schools Initiative to protect vulnerable rural schools.
“Federal security agencies must also strengthen intelligence-sharing with state and local security structures to prevent abductions before they occur,” Kareto added.
