Former Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai has expressed confidence in the capacity of Nigeria’s security agencies to hunt the abductors of pupils and teachers recently kidnapped in Oyo State, stressing that bandits were not beyond the reach of the country’s security architecture.
He stated this on Tuesday during an interview on TVC while speaking on the abduction of dozens of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, an incident that has sparked nationwide outrage with intensified calls for their rescue.
On May 15, gunmen abducted schoolchildren and teachers from three schools in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, and later beheaded one of the teachers.
The incident has since triggered protests, industrial action by teachers, and widespread public concern across the country.
The Federal Government has repeatedly assured Nigerians that efforts were ongoing to secure the victims’ freedom.
President Bola Tinubu recently directed security agencies to intensify intelligence-led rescue operations and ensure the safe return of the abducted children and teachers.
Questioning the notion that security agencies were unable to trace the kidnappers, the erstwhile Nigerian Ambassador to Benin Republic argued that the same institutions that can monitor and locate ordinary citizens and social media influencers should also be able to identify and track armed groups operating openly.
“I don’t believe security agencies can’t locate the bandits. If they can locate ordinary citizens, social media influencers, I don’t believe they can’t locate these bandits that flaunt their loots,” he said.
Buratai, however, stressed that it’s not enough to locate the terrorists, as the country must continue to strengthen the operational capacity of security institutions to effectively tackle insecurity.
“What I know is that there must be capacity building of all security agencies continuously,” he stated.
He advocated an increase in the number of personnel across the armed forces and the police, saying the country required more manpower to effectively respond to growing security challenges.
“More troops need to be recruited, even the police,” the retired military officer said.
He noted that Nigeria already possessed specialised units trained to carry out sensitive rescue operations, including the recovery of kidnap victims.
He pointed out that “we have special forces that are trained for such rescue missions,” adding that the Nigerian Army also maintains dedicated units responsible for rescue operations and the protection of high-profile individuals.
“Even the Army has rescue and VIP protection units,” he added.
Buratai explained that rescue missions involving schoolchildren and other vulnerable victims often require a high degree of caution because of the danger posed to those being held captive.
“But the sensitivity of that kind of kidnap, and those involved, is to avoid collateral damage,” he stated.
