The husband of the abducted principal of Community Grammar School, Esiele, in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, Prof. Wole Alamu, has said security agencies are intensifying efforts to rescue pupils, teachers and school administrators kidnapped during the recent attack on schools in the community.
Alamu, whose wife, Mrs Folawe Alamu, was among those abducted by gunmen, disclosed this during a telephone interview on Wednesday.
He appealed to members of the public and the media to avoid comments capable of jeopardising ongoing rescue efforts, noting that security operatives were working behind the scenes to secure the release of the victims.
“We are going to grant interviews, but not now. Serious work is ongoing underground. Anything said carelessly at this stage may affect the rescue operations,” he said.
The professor commended Governor Seyi Makinde and security agencies for what he described as coordinated efforts towards ensuring the safe return of the abductees.
The attack occurred in the Esiele community, where armed men invaded Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, as well as L.A. Primary School.
During the invasion, dozens of pupils, teachers and school officials were reportedly abducted, while a teacher identified as Michael Oyedokun was killed.
The Oyo State Police Command had earlier confirmed the killing of an assistant headmaster, Mr Adesiyan, and a commercial motorcyclist during the incident.
A viral video which surfaced online last week showed Mrs Alamu appealing to the Federal Government, the Oyo State Government, security agencies and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in securing the release of the victims.
In the footage, the visibly distressed principal lamented that the abductees had remained in captivity since the attack.
Meanwhile, security agencies have intensified operations across affected communities and nearby forests believed to be harbouring the kidnappers.
The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, was also reported to have arrived in Oyo State to oversee a technology-driven rescue operation involving the deployment of the Intelligence Response Team.
Governor Makinde had earlier disclosed that newly acquired surveillance aircraft would assist security operatives with aerial monitoring of forests suspected to be hideouts of the abductors.
Security agencies also confirmed the arrest of some suspects accused of assisting the kidnappers with information and navigation routes around the Old Oyo National Park.
The Oyo State Government, however, maintained that it would not pay ransom to secure the release of the victims, despite remaining open to lawful measures that could facilitate their freedom.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier condemned the killing of one of the abducted teachers, describing the attack as barbaric and unacceptable.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President assured Nigerians that security agencies were committed to rescuing the victims and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
He also renewed calls for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.
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