Oyo abducted pupils, teachers will regain freedom soon — DIG Fayoade

By Esther Onyegbula

The South-West Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, has assured Nigerians that ongoing efforts by security agencies and government authorities will soon secure the release of abducted schoolchildren and their teachers in Oyo State.

Fayoade gave the assurance on Monday during an official working visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, where he also outlined plans to strengthen police operations through improved manpower, enhanced welfare packages, technology-driven policing and intelligence gathering.

Speaking on the abduction, the DIG said security agencies remained focused on rescuing the victims rather than discussing ransom demands.

“The update is that all agencies, including government, are working very hard. I can assure you that within the shortest possible time, the children and their teachers will be free,” he said.

Responding to reports that the abductors had shifted from demanding the release of some of their leaders to seeking ransom and the release of foot soldiers, Fayoade said the police had no knowledge of such developments.

“We don’t know anything about ransom because we don’t talk about ransom. All efforts are directed towards getting the abductees free from captivity,” he stated.

The DIG explained that his visit to Lagos was aimed at strengthening supervision across commands in the South-West and engaging officers on emerging security challenges.

“It is a working visit to strengthen supervision and engage our officers and men in discussions on effective ways to tackle the evolving security challenges facing the country,” he said.

According to him, manpower shortages, personnel welfare and operational logistics featured prominently during discussions with officers.

He disclosed that plans were underway to improve manpower, noting that the recruitment of 40,000 police personnel had already commenced.

“Another area of importance is the welfare of our men, which remains a top priority for the Inspector-General of Police,” he added.

Fayoade said the vision of the Inspector-General is to motivate officers through improved welfare and the provision of necessary operational tools.

He also revealed that the Force was investing heavily in technology and data management systems to enhance policing nationwide.

“The Inspector-General is passionate about technology. We are working to complete a data centre at the Force Headquarters that will allow security agencies to access information on individuals with criminal records.

“It will also help us deploy resources more effectively. At the same time, we are working on the use of Artificial Intelligence for investigations and intelligence gathering,” he said.

The DIG noted that several breakthroughs recorded by police formations across the country were products of sustained investments in technical training and intelligence-led policing.

“Many of our activities are underreported. Policing is a 24-hour job and our officers are making arrests and recording successes daily. It may not be enough yet, but I assure you we will improve tremendously,” he said.

On public communication, Fayoade directed the Lagos State Command to ensure that operational achievements are adequately publicised.

“I have instructed the Commissioner of Police to ensure that every achievement is reported so members of the public can see the efforts being made.

“Even when we arrest an ordinary housebreaker, the public should know. If our reporting has not been sufficient, we will improve on it,” he said.

The DIG further highlighted ongoing efforts to modernise policing through upgraded data centres, control rooms and intelligence systems capable of predicting crime trends and enabling quicker responses.

“Technology will help us predict incidents, allocate resources more effectively and prevent crimes before they occur.

“Very soon, our officers will begin attending courses on the use of AI in investigations and intelligence gathering. We are becoming technology-driven and moving rapidly in that direction,” he added.

Fayoade also emphasised the importance of mutual respect between police officers and members of the public.

“Our officers will carry out their duties with respect, dignity and regard for citizens’ rights. We also expect members of the public to reciprocate that respect as officers discharge their responsibilities professionally,” he said.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Fatai, described the DIG’s visit as a homecoming and praised his leadership.

“Your visit today is indeed a homecoming. It is a privilege to have our amiable DIG with us to share his wealth of experience, knowledge and guidance with officers and men of the command,” he said.

Fatai disclosed that the Lagos State Police Command, established in 1967 with four Area Commands and 22 divisions, has expanded significantly to meet the demands of the state’s growing population.

According to him, the command now has 14 Area Commands, 117 divisions, 74 police posts and a workforce of 25,096 personnel.

He attributed the decline in major crimes to intelligence-led operations, modern policing techniques and support from the police leadership, the Lagos State Government and other stakeholders.

“The command has fully implemented various crime-prevention strategies, intelligence-driven operations and modern policing techniques. Consequently, crimes such as armed robbery, kidnapping, murder and cultism have recorded significant declines,” he said.

Presenting the command’s scorecard since assuming office on March 26, 2026, Fatai said 28 armed robbery incidents were foiled, while 71 robbery suspects and 133 cultism suspects were arrested.

He added that 44 murder cases were reported during the period, leading to the arrest of 35 suspects, while four traffic robbery suspects were also arrested and charged to court.

The commissioner further disclosed that the command recovered 60 firearms and 625 rounds of ammunition, impounded 122 vehicles for driving against traffic and seized 1,580 motorcycles for various traffic offences, including illegal use of Bus Rapid Transit corridors.

However, he noted that the achievements came at a cost.

“It saddens me to inform the DIG that seven personnel lost their lives in the line of duty, while 300 others sustained various injuries,” he said, requesting a minute’s silence in honour of the fallen officers.

Fatai reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustaining its crime-fighting efforts and maintaining Lagos as one of the safest states in the country.

“By the grace of God, the Lagos State Police Command remains at the forefront of crime prevention and control. Our officers and men are more determined than ever to sustain the momentum and keep the flag flying,” he said.

The post Oyo abducted pupils, teachers will regain freedom soon — DIG Fayoade appeared first on Vanguard News.