Security agencies are intensifying efforts to secure the release of schoolchildren abducted in Oyo State, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari has said. He also called on Nigerians to support security agencies with information, saying intelligence remains critical in the fight against insecurity.
Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Buhari, who represents Oyo North Senatorial District, said the federal and state governments are engaged in efforts to rescue the victims and remained in contact with those handling the operation.
“They (schoolchildren) are still with them, (terrorists) but the federal government and the state government are in touch with them. The details won’t be released. It’s only the security people that know that. Something is going to happen soon,” he said.
The senator said he had been in contact with families of the victims and sought to reassure them as efforts continue to secure the children’s release.
Asked about the challenges facing security agencies, Buhari pointed to the vast forest terrain used by kidnappers.
“The forest moves along almost seven states; Oyo, Kwara, Niger, Kebbi and Sokoto and we’re sharing a border with Benin Republic and Niger. In most cases, all these people go into the forest, and the forest is very, very thick. They don’t stay in one place. They will be moving, so tracking them can become very, very difficult,” he said.
He rejected suggestions that the government’s Safe Schools Initiative had failed.
“No, it has not failed. It’s just starting. In most cases, this type of policy will first start probably from urban areas, and then they will identify some schools that they will start with,” Buhari said.
The senator also disclosed that additional security assets had been deployed to Oyo North following the attacks.
“One of the reasons why we begged the federal government delegation when they came was that we wanted a battalion of the military. For now, they’ve given us one full battalion of the army led by a Brigadier General, and they gave us a police unit,” he said.
“There is a police helicopter that is doing so well. In the last two weeks since the incident happened, sincerely, if not because of the children, probably they would have struck,” he added.
Buhari said intelligence gathering remains the most important tool in tackling insecurity and urged citizens to cooperate with security agencies.
“I will start with the citizens. The citizens should come out and give information. There’s nothing the security can do without information,” he said.
The senator agreed that stronger action was needed to address insecurity across the country.
“I absolutely agree with you that we have to take a very decisive decision to solve this problem. No doubt about that,” he said.
He said rescue operations involving abducted schoolchildren are often complicated because kidnappers use the victims as shields.
“The intention was to attack, but by the time the report came from the surveillance team, they were able to see that the way they used the children, the casualty would be too much,” Buhari said.
The senator said stronger action is needed to address insecurity across the country. He added that rescue operations remain complex because abductors use victims as shields, making direct intervention difficult.
Ademide Adebayo
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