Tinubu Assures Rescue of Abducted Oyo Schoolchildren, Vows to Tackle Insecurity

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday assured residents of Oyo State that schoolchildren and teachers abducted during coordinated attacks on three primary schools in Oriire Local Government Area would be rescued unharmed.

The President gave the assurance while inaugurating the newly remodelled and redeveloped Premier Hotel in Ibadan, where he also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling the rising wave of banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the country.

The victims were abducted on Friday, May 15, 2026, during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, all in Oriire Local Government Area.

Tinubu said the Federal Government was deploying all available measures, including international collaboration, to secure the release of the victims.

“I must at this point reassure the good people of Oyo State and indeed the South-West that the Federal Government is seriously addressing the upswing in banditry, kidnapping and associated criminalities across the nation,” he said.

The President called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and support security agencies through intelligence sharing and community collaboration.

“I urge all citizens to remain vigilant and to work collaboratively with security agencies.

“There is undoubtedly a huge role for traditional and faith-based institutions to play in this regard, and I urge them to take the lead through the various channels provided by government,” he added.

Tinubu stressed that economic growth could only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and security, noting that his administration had made substantial investments to strengthen the nation’s security architecture.

“Economic development can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace, stability and security. That is why our administration has continued to invest significantly in strengthening the nation’s security architecture,” he said.

He explained that over the past three years, the government had enhanced inter-agency coordination, improved intelligence gathering, expanded technological surveillance capabilities, strengthened community-based security initiatives and increased support for the armed forces and other security agencies.

“There is an ongoing process in the National Assembly targeted at enhancing policing at all levels. We hope to roll this out in no distant future,” he said.

According to the President, the administration’s security interventions were already producing positive results across several parts of the country.

“These efforts are yielding measurable results across many parts of the country. We remain committed to ensuring that every Nigerian, every investor, and every visitor can live, work, travel and do business in safety and confidence,” he stated.

Tinubu also assured visitors and investors that Nigeria was becoming increasingly secure and attractive for investment.

“As guests look forward to using this magnificent facility from within Nigeria and from different parts of the world, they should be assured that our nation is becoming increasingly secure, increasingly connected and increasingly open for business.

“The combination of improved security, expanding infrastructure, economic reforms and strategic investments such as this Premier Hotel, therefore, conveys a strong message that Nigeria is moving steadily towards a more prosperous future,” he said.

Speaking on the remodelled Premier Hotel, Tinubu described the project as a landmark development that reaffirmed the commercial, cultural and strategic importance of Ibadan and Oyo State.

“Today, what we are celebrating is not just the reopening of a hotel, but the restoration of a true national icon.

“The transformation and modernisation of this facility remind us that heritage should not be abandoned to the passage of time.”