The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has explained that security agencies delayed the rescue operation of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State to avoid exposing the victims to danger.

Disu said the decision was taken despite mounting pressure from Nigerians who criticised the pace of the operation and compared Nigeria’s security response with that of other countries.

The IG, while speaking on the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State during a press briefing on Thursday, said security agencies held several meetings late into the night and kept details of their plans secret to prevent collateral damage.

The victims were abducted in May 2026 when suspected terrorists attacked schools in the area and took dozens of pupils and teachers into captivity.

They were later rescued after spending 56 days in captivity following a coordinated operation by security agencies.

Disu said the attackers raided two schools and escaped with the victims using the vehicle of one of the teachers before setting it ablaze at the entrance of the forest.

“I will share with you the incident of the Ogbomosho kidnap. That day, they came. Two schools they went to and kidnapped those children and their teachers.

“They used the vehicle of one of the teachers, the head teacher. When they got to the entrance of the bush that they were going to, they set fire to the vehicle. We didn’t know why they did it,” he said.

The police chief said the location of the attack created additional challenges for security operatives, noting that the area had poor communication facilities and limited security presence.

“In that area, there is no network at all, at all. And I think even police station far, far, far, far from them. But they had only one street, one road that goes to the two villages where this kidnap happened,” Disu said.

He said police officers, soldiers and vigilantes immediately joined the search for the abductors, adding that one officer was killed while tracking the attackers.

“Policemen came, soldiers came, vigilante came. I’m talking to you now because it’s only us who are here. They followed them, the path. Somebody was shot as we were following them.

“Nobody mentioned that. Nobody saw it. Nobody saw the effort we put in,” he said.

Disu said security agencies deployed aerial support, including helicopters belonging to the police and the Nigerian Air Force, while the search operation continued around the clock.

“From that moment, the Nigerian Air Force helicopter, the police helicopter, everybody were there searching day and night,” he said.

The IGP said the inability of security agencies to provide regular updates during the operation was deliberate, as officials feared that revealing information could compromise the safety of the hostages.

“Everybody were attacking us, left and right, with gun security. What is this? What is that? We cannot come out and talk. We cannot expose those children,” he said.

“There’s something they call collateral damage. People are forcing us. People are comparing us to other countries in the world. They wanted us to take hasty decisions.”

He said security officials had to make difficult decisions while managing public pressure and the safety of the victims.

“So now, every night, your husband came out at that time and told you he was going to meet him. It is true. We were holding meetings late in the night about it, trying to take decisions,” Disu said.

The police boss added that details of the operation were restricted even among security personnel to maintain secrecy.

“Most of this, we did not come back and even tell a lot of our colleagues because we wanted to keep it secret. Parties we could not attend. A lot of things happened, we could not talk about it,” he said.

Disu said the rescue operation was eventually successful after weeks of coordinated efforts by security agencies. (PUNCH)

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