The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has declared that the safe return of abducted schoolchildren in Oyo and Borno states has now become a top priority for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Speaking on behalf of the President at a special national security briefing in Abuja, Idris vowed that “no child belongs in captivity” and announced the deployment of a specialised rescue team alongside the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to secure vulnerable communities.
The minister revealed that coordinated operations by the Armed Forces, DSS, Police, and intelligence agencies are underway, combining aerial surveillance, intelligence gathering, and community engagement. He stressed that Tinubu’s approach goes beyond force, embracing a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s security architecture, including the determined implementation of state policing.
Recent operations have yielded major breakthroughs: over 1,000 terrorists neutralised in the first quarter of 2026, 92 civilians rescued near Buratai, and key ISWAP commanders eliminated in a joint Nigeria–U.S. mission. Maritime security efforts have also curbed oil theft, boosting production by 400,000 barrels per day.
Idris highlighted judicial victories, including the conviction of four terrorists for the 2022 Owo church massacre and 386 convictions from Nigeria’s largest terrorism trial. He underscored that terrorism is being fought “not only on the battlefield but also through the rule of law.”
Calling for unity, Idris urged citizens and the media to resist divisive narratives and avoid amplifying terrorist propaganda. “An attack against one Nigerian is an attack against all Nigerians,” he said, assuring families of abducted children that “your pain is our pain” and pledging that every resource is being deployed to secure their release.
