Presidency defends secrecy over Oyo school rescue plans

The Nigerian Presidency has defended its strategy of maintaining secrecy around kidnapping rescue operations, asserting that public updates could jeopardize the safety of victims and security personnel. Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, argued that armed groups actively monitor social media and would use any disclosed information to their advantage.

Olusegun's comments on Monday addressed renewed online criticism regarding the government's communication on recent school abductions. He stated, "The Kidnappers are on social media with us and follow the trends to get updates. You cannot possibly expect the government to update rescue plans on social media if you really have the interest of those kids at heart, and it is not just for performative purposes. Concerned, we must. Reckless, we mustn’t."

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The Kidnappers are on social media with us and follow the trends to get updates. You cannot possibly expect the government to update rescue plans on social media if you really have the interest of those kids at heart, and it is not just for performative purposes. Concerned, we must. Reckless, we mustn’t.

He stressed that the government's priority is the safe return of abducted individuals, warning against actions that could endanger ongoing operations. "I understand your anger, but a large bulk of it should be reserved for the cowardly terrorists who use kids as human shields. These kids have to be rescued alive. It serves no purpose for our armed forces to charge in headfirst and hope for the best. They are kids, fgs!" he added.

This clarification follows President Bola Tinubu's approval for the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State to bolster security in forest corridors frequently used by armed groups. The decision was made after the abduction of pupils and teachers in the Oriire Local Government Area. National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu indicated the recruitment process would commence in July 2026, with local personnel deployed for enhanced surveillance and counter-bandit operations.

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I understand your anger, but a large bulk of it should be reserved for the cowardly terrorists who use kids as human shields. These kids have to be rescued alive. It serves no purpose for our armed forces to charge in headfirst and hope for the best. They are kids, fgs!