The Nigeria Police Force has reiterated its commitment to securing the release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, assuring that ongoing rescue operations are being intensified across the region.
The abductees, made up of 39 students and seven teachers, were taken in June 2026 during an armed attack targeting schools in parts of the state, an incident that has continued to raise concerns about safety in the South West.
Speaking to journalists at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja during a briefing on the security situation in the region, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the South West and ICT, Adegoke Fayoade, said security agencies were working in close coordination to ensure the safe return of the victims.
He explained that the rescue mission remains a top priority and assured that efforts are ongoing to conclude the operation as quickly as possible. According to him, all relevant security and government agencies are fully engaged in tracking and rescuing the abducted schoolchildren and their teachers.
He further stated that the planned recruitment of 40,000 additional police officers forms part of a wider strategy to strengthen manpower, improve response capacity, and address the growing security demands across the country.
Fayoade also addressed concerns about the effectiveness of police operations in Lagos, dismissing claims that intelligence driven tracking had declined since the EndSARS protests. He maintained that recent arrests and operational breakthroughs demonstrate that the force remains active and effective in tackling crime across the state and beyond, Zoyols Blog reports.
