Replicate Oyo Rescue Model Nationwide-Northern Group Tells FG

Morganable news/security&justice

In Borno State, families of abducted schoolchildren say the successful rescue in Oyo has rekindled hope but also deepened frustration over what they describe as prolonged silence from authorities regarding their loved ones

kaNo —

Families of abducted victims, northern socio-political groups, and opposition parties have called on the Federal Government to replicate the intelligence-driven security operation that led to the rescue of abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State across other parts of the country still grappling with mass abductions.

The appeals followed Friday’s announcement by security agencies confirming that all pupils and teachers kidnapped during coordinated attacks on three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State on May 15 had regained their freedom without the payment of ransom.

The operation, described by authorities as intelligence-led and jointly executed by the Nigerian military, the Department of State Services, and the police, has been widely hailed as a demonstration of what coordinated efforts can achieve when backed by strong political will and actionable intelligence.

However, even as Nigerians celebrated the development, attention quickly shifted to the plight of dozens of other victims still held captive across the country, particularly in northern states where kidnapping has persisted.

In Borno State, families of abducted schoolchildren say the successful rescue in Oyo has rekindled hope but also deepened frustration over what they describe as prolonged silence from authorities regarding their loved ones.

At least 78 students remain in captivity following separate attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in Askira/Uba Local Government Area.

On May 15, gunmen stormed Mussa Primary and Junior Secondary School, abducting 42 pupils. Barely six weeks later, on June 29, another attack on Government Day Secondary School, Lassa, in the same council area led to the abduction of 36 students and a teacher.

Borno Victims Families Urges FG To Rescue Abducted Students

Speaking on behalf of affected families, Ibrahim Millam, whose daughter Esther is among those kidnapped in Lassa, said parents had received no meaningful updates since the incident.

“Since they took my daughter and her fellow students, we have not received any information. It has been silence; no information about their whereabouts,” he said.

While commending the Federal Government for securing the release of the Oyo victims, Millam appealed for similar efforts to be directed toward rescuing children still in captivity.

“Please, our children should not be allowed to die in captivity. They are our hope. We are not at peace in our homes,” he added.

Another resident of the Mussa community, Sani Abdullahi, described the situation as devastating, noting that many families were losing hope as weeks passed without progress.

“It is unfortunate that our children are still in captivity after almost two months. Parents are losing hope. If you visit the families now, it is tears upon tears,” he said.

According to him, repeated appeals by community leaders to relevant authorities had yet to yield tangible results.

“We have held meetings and sent our pleas through representatives to the government, yet there has been continued silence. All we get is assurance. When are they coming back?” he asked.

ACF Calls On President Tinubu To Rescue Victims Held Captives

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) also weighed in, urging the administration of Bola Tinubu to intensify efforts to secure the release of all Nigerians still held by kidnappers.

The group said the successful Oyo rescue should mark the beginning of a sustained nationwide campaign against abductions.

In an interview, ACF National Publicity Secretary, Tukur Muhammad-Baba, welcomed the development, describing it as a moment of relief for the affected families and communities.

“We heartily welcome the successful rescue of the Oyo State schoolchildren and their teachers. We rejoice with the pupils, their parents and guardians,” he said.

However, he stressed that thousands of families across states such as Borno, Kaduna, Kwara, and Zamfara were still waiting anxiously for the return of their loved ones.

“We fervently appeal to the Federal Government, the security forces, and all concerned authorities to ensure the release of all persons still in captivity across states,” Muhammad-Baba said.

“No citizen ought to be subjected to such evil, and the government has a duty to eliminate this scourge without lopsided attention.”

Similarly, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) criticised the Federal Government’s handling of insecurity, arguing that the successful rescue in Oyo should not overshadow what it described as systemic failures.

Speaking with Sunday Punch, NEF National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Jiddere, said the government ought to have prevented the abductions in the first place.

“The government should have prevented the abduction of schoolchildren. If adequate security was provided, nobody should be subjected to kidnapping or killing,” he said.

Jiddere questioned the rationale for celebrating rescue operations when such incidents continue to occur.

“Why should children be kidnapped at all? Our position has not changed. The government has woefully failed those still in captivity,” he added.

ADC Calls On FG To Secure Release Of Abducted Borno, Kwara Residents

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) urged the Federal Government to extend the same operational commitment demonstrated in Oyo to victims in Borno and Kwara states.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party congratulated the rescued victims but warned against what it described as selective urgency.

“We commend the security agencies and everyone whose efforts made this rescue possible. Most importantly, we rejoice with the families whose long, traumatic wait has finally ended,” he said.

The party, however, noted that many victims remained in captivity, including pupils abducted in Borno and more than 100 residents kidnapped in Kaiama, Kwara State.

“We believe their suffering deserves the same urgency, determination and national attention that brought the Oriire victims home,” Abdullahi added.

Security analysts say the Oyo operation underscores the effectiveness of coordinated intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration, but warn that sustaining such efforts nationwide will require improved funding, better coordination, and political commitment.

They note that while isolated successes can boost public confidence, the broader challenge of insecurity particularly in the North-East and North-West demands a comprehensive strategy that combines prevention, rapid response, and community engagement.

As calls for action intensify, affected families across the country say they are less interested in official assurances and more concerned about seeing their loved ones safely returned.

With dozens still in captivity, the pressure is now on the Federal Government to demonstrate that the strategy that worked in Oyo can be replicated nationwide, bringing relief to families who continue to wait in anguish.