The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered the immediate deployment of additional tactical and intelligence units to Oyo State following the abduction of school pupils and teachers during a violent attack on communities in Oriire Local Government Area.
The directive came as the nation continued to express concern over the disturbing incident which occurred on May 15, when armed men invaded villages in the local government area and kidnapped an unspecified number of school children and teachers, throwing residents into panic and uncertainty.
Disu gave the order during a working visit to Oyo State on Thursday morning, where he toured affected communities and met with parents, traditional leaders, security personnel and local residents in a bid to assess the situation firsthand and reassure families of the victims.
The visit underscored the seriousness with which the Nigeria Police Force is treating the incident, especially amid growing fears over rising cases of kidnappings targeting schools and rural communities across parts of the country.
During the visit, the IGP personally coordinated ongoing rescue operations and held security briefings with senior police officers and tactical commanders already deployed to the area.
Speaking emotionally to worried parents and residents in Yoruba language, Disu assured them that security agencies had intensified search-and-rescue operations and would not relent until all kidnapped pupils and teachers were safely returned to their families.
He appealed to residents to remain calm and cooperate with security operatives by providing useful information that could aid ongoing operations.
According to him, the deployment of additional tactical squads and intelligence personnel was aimed at strengthening ongoing efforts, combing surrounding forests and blocking possible escape routes being used by the kidnappers.
The police boss stressed that the safety of the abducted victims remained a top national priority and assured residents that all available security resources were being mobilised to ensure a successful rescue mission.
The attack on Oriire communities had sparked outrage and fear among residents, particularly parents who have remained anxious since news of the abduction broke.
Eyewitness accounts indicated that the armed attackers stormed the communities in large numbers, firing sporadically to scare residents before whisking away the pupils and teachers to an unknown destination.
The exact number of victims abducted during the attack has yet to be officially confirmed, but local sources said the incident affected several families and disrupted academic activities in the area.
The development has also renewed conversations about the need for stronger security around schools, especially in rural communities vulnerable to attacks by criminal gangs and kidnappers.
Disu was accompanied during the visit by the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State, Ojo Adekimi, as well as the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Schools Protection Squad, Abayomi Shogunle.
The delegation was received in Oyo State by the state Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, alongside other senior security officials and government representatives.
Security meetings were later held behind closed doors where operational strategies and intelligence reports were reviewed as part of efforts to accelerate rescue operations.
Residents of the affected communities welcomed the visit of the IGP, describing it as a sign that the Federal Government and security agencies were committed to ending the ordeal faced by the abducted victims and their families.
Some parents who spoke during the meeting broke down in tears as they appealed to authorities to intensify efforts to secure the release of their children unharmed.
Traditional rulers and community leaders also urged security agencies to sustain the operation until every victim was rescued, while calling for stronger security presence in vulnerable rural communities.
The incident has once again highlighted the growing insecurity challenges confronting some parts of the country, particularly attacks targeting schools and innocent civilians.
Analysts say the latest deployment of tactical and intelligence teams could significantly strengthen ongoing rescue operations, especially with the involvement of specialised police units experienced in anti-kidnapping operations and intelligence gathering.
Meanwhile, security presence has reportedly increased across parts of Oriire Local Government Area, with armed operatives conducting patrols and surveillance operations in strategic locations.
As families continue to wait anxiously for positive news, the police leadership has maintained that every necessary step is being taken to ensure that the abducted pupils and teachers are rescued safely and reunited with their loved ones.
