A top federal delegation led by Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, visited Oyo State on Sunday following the abduction of dozens of pupils and teachers in the Ogbomoso area.
The team arrived in Ogbomoso before heading to Esiele and Yawota villages in Oriire Local Government Area, where gunmen attacked schools and abducted pupils and teachers into nearby forests.
Members of the delegation included National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Defence Christopher Musa, Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu, Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe, and Special Adviser on Public Communications Sunday Dare.
The visit follows growing anger over the mass kidnapping, which has left families distressed and communities living in fear.
According to Dare, the trip is part of President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to secure the victims’ release and ensure those responsible are punished.
“A powerful Presidential Delegation just arrived Ogbomoso enroute to the villages of Esiele and Yawota where armed men simultaneously raided Baptist Nursery and Primary schools seizing about 46 pupils and teachers,” Dare disclosed.
The attack, which happened earlier this month, is regarded as one of the most troubling school abductions in Nigeria’s South-West in recent years.
Reports say gunmen struck schools in Ahoro Esinele and Yawota communities, abducting dozens of pupils, students and teachers. Investigations and eyewitness accounts indicate the victims were moved through forest routes linking parts of Oyo and neighbouring Kwara State.
Dare said the affected communities are located within a vast forest reserve covering eight local government areas.
“The visit of the security-focused Presidential delegation comes after the initial visit of IGP Tunji Disu to Esiele and Yawota villages barely days after the attack for on-the-spot assessment and necessary security deployments,” he said.
He added that more security personnel have been deployed as search-and-rescue efforts continue. President Tinubu had earlier condemned the abductions and promised to deploy all available security resources to rescue the victims.
