By Enitan Abdultawab
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Disu has opened up about the challenges security agencies faced during the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying authorities came under intense public criticism while carrying out the delicate operation.
Disu spoke on Thursday while hosting leadership delegations from the National Defence College (NDC) and the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Reflecting on the 56-day rescue mission, the police chief said the operation demanded patience, coordination and restraint, noting that hasty decisions could have endangered the lives of the victims.
“That day, after students of the three schools were abducted, they used the vehicle of one of the head teachers. They set fire to the vehicle when they got to the entrance of the forest,” he said.
According to the IGP, the difficult terrain posed a major challenge to rescue efforts.
“There is no network at all in that area. Even the police station is far from there. There is only one road that leads to the location of this kidnap,” he said.
Disu said security operatives, including the police, military, local vigilantes and air support units, mounted an intensive pursuit of the kidnappers immediately after the attack.
“Policemen, soldiers, and vigilantes came. We followed them. Somebody was even shot while we followed them. We kept chasing that day and night. The Nigerian Air Force and even the Police Air Wing were also there. It took time before we finally saw where they were,” he recalled.
The IGP said the prolonged operation attracted criticism from many Nigerians, who questioned the pace of the rescue mission.
“Everybody was attacking us. We could not come out and talk and expose those children,” he said.
He explained that security agencies deliberately withheld operational details to avoid jeopardising the mission.
“There is something we call collateral damage. People were comparing us to other nations. They wanted us to take hasty decisions.”
Disu also revealed that numerous behind-the-scenes meetings and strategic engagements took place throughout the operation, although many of them could not be disclosed to the public.
“Every night, your husband told you that he wanted to attend a meeting; it was true. A lot of things happened, but we cannot talk about it,” he added.
Gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School in the Ahoro-Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, abducting pupils, students and teachers.
The victims regained their freedom on July 10 after a 56-day intelligence-led multi-agency rescue operation involving the military, police, DSS, NSCDC, the Office of the National Security Adviser, Amotekun and local hunters.
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