President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned the reported killing of one of the teachers abducted during a bandit attack on schools in Esiele community, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, describing the act as barbaric and unacceptable.
The President, however, assured residents of the state that ongoing security operations would secure the release of the remaining victims kidnapped during the invasion of the community last Friday.
Bandits had stormed the Esiele community, attacking Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School, where they abducted staff, students and pupils, triggering widespread outrage and concern across the state.
In a statement on the development, Tinubu expressed sadness over the reported murder of one of the kidnapped teachers and sympathised with Governor Seyi Makinde, the Oyo State government and families of the victims.
“I am saddened by the reported killing of one of the teachers kidnapped by the gunmen who invaded the community. I sympathise with Governor Seyi Makinde and commend the steps he has taken on the matter. I sympathise with the families of the kidnapped victims,” the President said.
Tinubu disclosed that the Federal Government was working closely with the Oyo State Government and security agencies to rescue all those still in captivity, adding that security operatives had intensified efforts to track down the perpetrators and their collaborators.
“The Federal Government is working with the Oyo State government to rescue all the victims. I commend the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioners of Police in Oyo and Kwara States for their quick intervention and the deployment of a tactical and the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) team to rescue the victims,” he stated.
The President further revealed that the Inspector-General of Police was personally coordinating the operation on his directive, expressing confidence that security agencies would soon achieve a breakthrough.
“The IGP, following my instructions, is personally leading the tech-driven operation. We expect a breakthrough soon. The bandits and all their local collaborators will be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law,” Tinubu said.
The President also used the incident to renew his support for the creation of state police, arguing that decentralised policing had become necessary to improve security coverage in underserved communities across the country.
“Cases of kidnapping further make imperative the establishment of state police to man some of our underserved areas. The National Assembly should accelerate the enactment of the law creating state police,” he added.
Security agencies have since launched coordinated operations across parts of Oyo and neighbouring Kwara State as efforts continue to rescue the abducted victims and dismantle the criminal network behind the attack.
