News PlatformNG reports that the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has defended the Federal Government’s handling of the recent kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, insisting that authorities responded promptly after the incident occurred near Ogbomoso.
Speaking during a television interview on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, Dare rejected claims that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was slow to react to the abduction. He stated that the President condemned the attack within 24 hours and immediately directed security agencies to mobilise efforts toward rescuing the victims.
According to Dare, the government activated all available security mechanisms shortly after the incident was reported.
“The response of the federal government has not been slow. If you monitor the developments very steadily, when it occurred, in less than 24 hours there was a response, a statement by Mr. President condemning it and activating all levers of the security organization to move to that place,” he said.
The presidential aide further revealed that senior security officials were deployed to the affected communities within 48 hours. He noted that the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, personally visited the area to engage with community leaders, local hunters, and families of the victims.
“Less than 48 hours after, the IG, Tunji Disu, personally went right into those villages to engage with the community leaders, the hunters, and the families and relatives of those involved. So, to say it was slow, it was not slow, but you have to follow a process,” Dare stated.
He added that President Tinubu remains deeply concerned about the welfare of the abducted victims and has approved both kinetic and non-kinetic measures to combat insecurity in Oriire Local Government Area and surrounding communities.
Dare disclosed that special rescue units, military personnel, and security equipment had been deployed to the region, while strategic security cordons were established to support rescue operations and track down the perpetrators.
“When you add that to the ongoing efforts in terms of activating the special forces, those that have the skills for rescue, we already have teams like that. You look at the tanks, the soldiers that have gone there. The cordon that has been taking place, that area has been cordoned off to make sure that at least they are able to entrap both the attackers and their victims,” he explained.
As part of broader efforts to strengthen security, Dare said President Tinubu had approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards and backed the establishment of a military base in the area.
He also stressed that rescue operations require a high degree of confidentiality, noting that not all operational details can be disclosed publicly due to security concerns.
Addressing fears over insecurity in Ogbomoso and neighbouring communities, Dare described the recent kidnappings as isolated incidents linked to the challenging terrain of the Old Forest Reserve, a vast forest corridor stretching across several states.
The presidential spokesman further highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects in the region, citing progress on the Oyo–Ogbomoso road project, which he said had advanced from 60 percent completion to 87 percent under the current administration.
Rejecting suggestions that government interventions were merely reactive, Dare maintained that the Tinubu administration had consistently prioritised security across the country. He pointed to ongoing military operations in states such as Yobe, Borno, Niger, and Kwara, where security forces continue to confront armed groups and criminal networks.
While acknowledging that security challenges persist, Dare expressed confidence in the administration’s efforts.
“Are there security challenges? Absolutely. Are these challenges being confronted? Absolutely,” he said.
He also defended key economic reforms introduced by the administration, including the removal of fuel subsidies and exchange-rate adjustments, arguing that the policies are beginning to deliver long-term benefits through increased non-oil revenue, export growth, and greater economic diversification.
“The question I always insist we interrogate is: where was this country when President Bola Tinubu took over in May 2023? What was the situation then? Where would we have been if he had not done anything?” Dare asked.
According to him, Nigeria’s economy is showing signs of improved stability and resilience as the government continues to implement its reform agenda.
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