“I’d have gone into the forest” to rescue abducted Oyo pupils, teachers if I were president — Peter Obi
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he would have personally entered the forest where abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State were held if he had been Nigeria’s president.
The former Anambra State governor made the remark while speaking during an interview on Afia TV on Thursday, where he stressed that decisive leadership is crucial in addressing the country’s security challenges.
Background
On May 15, gunmen attacked Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota; Community Grammar School, Esiele; and LA Primary School in Ogbomoso, all located in Oriire LGA of Oyo State.
According to the Oyo State Police Command, two people were killed during the attacks, while at least 45 pupils and teachers were abducted.
The incident forced the Oyo State Government to close schools across four local government areas as security agencies launched rescue operations.
On July 10, the Presidency confirmed that all the abducted pupils and teachers had been freed.
Speaking on the incident, Obi said he would not have waited for weeks before taking action, insisting that everyone in the kidnappers’ camp would have been rescued, even if the operation resulted in casualties.
“But I’ll be there in two days. Is the bush not in Nigeria? That bush they went in. The bush is in Nigeria.
“Everybody in that bush will come out. There might be casualties, but everybody will come out.”
The former governor also criticised President Bola Tinubu for allegedly failing to personally contact Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde during the more than 50-day ordeal.
“Days of kidnap of Oyo children. The president did not call the governor. What do you mean? Fifty days,” he said.
Obi further called for greater transparency in the handling of security operations, arguing that Nigerians deserve to see those arrested for serious crimes.
“And it is time when we say we resolve something. We arrest some people. Parade the people. Let people see them. What is happening?
“When America or other countries kill people like that, they parade them. They show it. Everybody sees it.
“In Nigeria, everything is shrouded in secrecy.”