Nigeria – Babacar Sane

The Nigerian president announced a new package of security measures to counter the escalating kidnappings in Oyo State in the southwest of the country, including approving the recruitment of 1,000 forest rangers and assigning a specialized security unit with advanced rescue capabilities to intensify efforts to free dozens of kidnapped students and teachers.

The announcement came during a visit by a high-level government delegation to the communities of Isili and Yawota in the Oriri Local Government Area, the two areas that witnessed the armed attack that targeted three schools in mid-May.

The delegation was headed by the Chief of Staff of the Nigerian Presidency, Femi Gbajabiamila, and included National Security Advisor Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu, and Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa.

Nigeria deploys 1,000 forest rangers to track down kidnappers of schoolchildren in Oyo State

During meetings with residents and local leaders, Gbagabiamila stressed that President Tinubu is following the case directly and that the federal government will use all available resources to ensure the safe return of the abductees.

He said the rescue operation would rely on precise intelligence and tight security coordination, employing a combination of military and non-military means to ensure the safety of the hostages. The delegation also informed representatives of the local communities that their request to establish a permanent military base in the area had been forwarded to the president for consideration.

The details of the incident date back to May 15, 2026, when gunmen attacked the Community Rules School, the Baptist Nursery and Elementary School, and the L.A. Elementary School in the Isili and Yawota regions, and kidnapped dozens of pupils and teachers.

The attack resulted in the death of mathematics teacher Michael Oyedokun, along with a motorcyclist and a security officer who was killed during an initial rescue attempt after the forces collided with improvised explosive devices planted by the kidnappers.

Nigerian authorities hope that the recruitment of 1,000 new forest rangers in cooperation with the Oyo State government will help strengthen security control over forested areas believed to be used by armed groups as hideouts for carrying out kidnappings and hostage-takings.