IGP Explains Deliberate Delay in Oyo Schoolchildren Rescue Operation

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

Speaking during a press briefing on Thursday, Disu said the decision was taken despite public criticism over the pace of the operation, adding that security agencies held several late-night meetings and kept operational details secret to prevent collateral damage.

Recalling the abduction in Oriire Local Government Area, he said the attackers invaded two schools, abducted pupils and teachers, and fled in the vehicle of one of the teachers before setting it ablaze at the entrance to 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.”

The IGP said the remote location, which lacked communication networks and nearby police stations, made the operation more difficult.

He added that police officers, soldiers and vigilantes immediately launched a search for the abductors, during which one officer was shot and killed, while police and Nigerian Air Force helicopters provided aerial support.

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

Disu said security agencies deliberately withheld updates throughout the operation to avoid compromising the safety of the hostages.

“We cannot come out and talk. We cannot expose those children.”

“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 added that officials held late-night meetings and even restricted information among some security personnel to maintain secrecy until the victims were safely rescued after weeks of coordinated operations.

“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.”