The Oriire Kidnapping and Ongoing Security Issues

The recent kidnapping of schoolchildren in Ahoro-Esiele Community, Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, is very disturbing. On 15 May, cruel kidnappers took 38 schoolchildren and killed one teacher in an attack on our nation’s safety and education system.

The Nigerian Union of Teachers and students across the country have protested this incident. Their anger is understandable. But these awful events should not be used for political gain, especially during tough times for our country's security.

Anyone who has been kidnapped or knows someone who has will understand the deep pain and trauma it brings. I know this feeling well. In April, my cook, who fears flying, was taken in broad daylight in Kabba, Kogi State, while traveling from Lagos to Abuja. He was one of 18 passengers on a Chisco Transport Company bus that was attacked by armed bandits on 15 April. He spent 13 days in captivity before we helped him escape through efforts led by the Kogi State Commissioner of Police. His stories of what the kidnappers did, most of whom were Fulani and spoke little English, were horrifying. What the families of those 18 people went through to get them back is hard to imagine.

As more kidnappings make the news, some people may think the government is powerless and not doing enough to fight this issue. This view is simply not true.

President Bola Tinubu sees the security situation as a serious threat. He is doing everything he can to control this situation and make sure the safety of Nigerians is prioritized, which is the main job of any government.

After the Oriire kidnapping, the president sent a strong team led by his Chief of Staff, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila. This team included the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa, among others. They came to show support for the families of the victims and comfort the people of Ogbomoso and Oriire communities. This visit was part of ongoing efforts by security agents to find and catch the kidnappers and to safely return the abducted students and teachers.

There are signs that the government is close to securing the safe return of the kidnapped children and teachers. The government has not given up its responsibility and continues to work hard to improve security across the country. To those who are using kidnapping and banditry for political gain ahead of 2027, your time is limited. The government will find you and bring you to justice.

This new security challenge gives a chance to highlight what the Tinubu administration is doing to tackle insecurity, protect Nigerians, and solve this problem once and for all. Some positive results have already come from these efforts. The full benefits will be seen soon.

President Tinubu’s strategy against kidnapping, banditry, and terrorism focuses on two main points: active measures and community engagement. For active measures, which include gathering intelligence and using force, the administration has moved from just building capacity to targeting specific threats. The country’s national security setup has recently been revamped, with a new counterterrorism plan based on unified command, intelligence gathering, and community stability.

Nigeria has teamed up with the United States to deal with this security issue. Since May 2023, Nigeria-US collaboration has shifted from training and supplying equipment to real-time intelligence sharing, precise strikes, and targeting high-ranking terrorist leaders. The Nigeria-AFRICOM model focuses on fewer bombs but greater accuracy.

In 2024, the precision of Nigerian Air Force strikes improved to 67 percent, up from 41 percent in 2022, according to official data. A recent joint Nigeria-US operation in Arege, Borno State, targeted ISWAP’s Command Centre and reduced attacks on military bases and civilian areas.

Reports say that 21 suspected ISWAP terrorists were killed in that operation. Three of those killed were mid-level commanders in charge of raids in Monguno and Damasak.

On 16 May, both President Tinubu and President Trump confirmed that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, thought to be the second-in-command of ISIL (ISIS) worldwide, was killed in a joint counterterrorism effort by Nigeria and US forces in the Lake Chad area.

Last year, the Defence Headquarters announced that between 2024 and 2025, armed forces in various areas neutralized over 13,000 terrorists, arrested 4,375 suspected terrorists, and convicted 124 terrorists and insurgents. Over 124,000 fighters and their families surrendered to the authorities.

In November, President Tinubu declared a nationwide security emergency and classified bandits as terrorists to allow for tougher responses. He stated, "The terrorists hiding in our forests will have no more safe places." He ordered the police to recruit 20,000 more officers, raising the total to 50,000, and also started new military and SSS recruitments.

Just last week, the president approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards for Oyo State following the Oriire kidnapping.

President Tinubu emphasized that the police are the main agency for internal security. But they need to work with the military, the State Security Service, the National Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security bodies. He explained that teamwork among security agencies is crucial to end banditry, kidnapping, and armed robbery.

The president has also committed significant funds to security operations. There has been an increase in the military budget. For example, the 2026 budget set aside ₦5.41 trillion for Defence and Security, the biggest single allocation, to buy modern equipment and improve operations.

But using force alone is not enough. Community strategies, like engaging stakeholders, preventing crime, and de-radicalization, are also important. More than 124,000 insurgents and their families have exited through Operation Safe Corridor since 2023.

President Tinubu sees insecurity as "foreign to our culture" and a hindrance to economic growth. He links security to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which focuses on economic diversification, productivity, and human development to tackle the root causes of violence.

This recent security issue also allows for discussion about President Tinubu’s appointment of General Adeyinka Famadewa (rtd) as special adviser on Homeland Security. Some have suggested this appointment was to reduce the influence of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Famadewa’s appointment was made to bring more hands to the fight against insecurity and to bring terrorists and bandits to justice. It is not meant to limit NSA Ribadu’s powers or to diminish the roles of key northern figures in government, as some have claimed. The president has said he will do whatever it takes to solve insecurity, including adding more people to the task.

The NSA has always been a close ally of President Tinubu. He still is today. He is one of the president’s closest advisors, and nothing has changed that in my opinion. Mallam Ribadu, as NSA, is still in charge of the national security setup. We need all capable hands to tackle this problem.