The Citizens’ Safety & Security Network (CSSN) has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu and Nigeria’s security agencies for the successful rescue of schoolchildren and teachers abducted from Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
In a statement signed by its Convener, Arc. Timothy Danladi Usman, the group described the operation as the product of decisive leadership, sustained intelligence work and inter-agency coordination.
On 15 May 2026, gunmen carried out coordinated attacks on three schools in the Yawota and Ahoro-Esiele communities of Orire LGA. The assailants targeted Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, abducting dozens of pupils, teachers and a school principal. One teacher was killed during the assault, while another later died in captivity.
The incident sparked nationwide outrage, protests by teachers in Ogbomoso and renewed calls for improved school security. The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) condemned the attacks as “barbaric and inhuman” and organised a nationwide rally demanding the victims’ immediate release, highlighting the fear and trauma inflicted on teachers, pupils, parents and affected communities.
The CSO particularly singled out Ribadu for “decisive and often silent leadership.” The group said the National Security Adviser galvanised the security agencies, assembled a specialised intelligence team and maintained operational pressure over several months until the remaining captives were freed. It also thanked President Tinubu for providing the political will through a clear directive that the abducted children and teachers must be brought home alive.
The organisation further acknowledged the synergy among the various security agencies, citing their coordinated intelligence sharing, operational discipline and joint action as critical to the recovery.
CSSN also welcomed the Federal Government’s swift charging of three suspects, Abdulrazak Umar (also known as Abu Khalifa/Abu Khalid), Yunusa Musa (also known as Yunusa bin Musa) and Shamsu Adamu Sani (also known as Abu Itisar) in connection with the Orire abduction. It hailed the Nigerian judiciary for the prompt conviction and sentencing of the three to life imprisonment for concealing information about the masterminds of the crime.
“This decisive judicial action sends a clear signal that those who enable or shield the perpetrators of such heinous crimes will face the full weight of the law,” the statement said.
While celebrating the rescue and convictions, CSSN warned that the tragedy must not be allowed to recur. It called on security agencies to strengthen school-protection protocols, improve intelligence coverage in vulnerable communities and maintain sustained operational readiness.
“The safety of our children and the integrity of our educational institutions remain non-negotiable,” the group declared, adding that it would continue to monitor developments and demand accountability until every Nigerian school is secure.
