Presidency Criticizes Atiku Over Silence on Rescued Oyo Pupils, Praises Obi’s Reaction

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for allegedly failing to acknowledge the successful rescue of abducted pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, while commending former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, for his response to the development.

Onanuga’s reaction followed the announcement by security agencies that all the pupils and teachers abducted from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area had regained their freedom after spending about 56 days in captivity.

The presidential aide had earlier announced the rescue operation through his verified social media platform, stating that security agencies successfully freed the victims, with reports indicating that eight suspected kidnappers were arrested while some others were neutralised during the operation.

Following the development, Onanuga took a swipe at Atiku, questioning why the former vice president had not publicly reacted to the safe return of the victims despite his earlier criticisms of the government over the prolonged captivity of the pupils and teachers.

Atiku had previously criticised the Federal Government over the continued captivity of the Oyo schoolchildren and teachers, urging authorities to intensify efforts to secure their release and describing the situation as unacceptable.

The former vice president, through his spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu, had expressed concern over the fate of the victims and accused the government of not demonstrating enough urgency in addressing the security crisis.

However, after the victims were rescued, Onanuga argued that those who had criticised the government during the period of captivity should also acknowledge the success of the security operation that led to their freedom.

The presidential aide also praised Peter Obi for reacting to the rescue, contrasting his response with what he described as Atiku’s silence on the development.

Obi had earlier spoken out following the abduction of the pupils and teachers, describing the incident as a sign of a deeper security and humanitarian challenge while calling for urgent action to protect Nigerians.

The rescue of the victims brought widespread relief across Oyo State and Nigeria after the abductees were taken from schools in Oriire Local Government Area on May 15, 2026, in an attack that involved pupils, students, and teachers from three educational institutions.

The Presidency disclosed that the operation was conducted without ransom payment or prisoner exchange, adding that security forces successfully disrupted attempts by the criminals to achieve their objectives.

The rescued victims have since been taken for medical evaluation and support before their eventual reunion with their families, according to security authorities.

The development has continued to generate reactions from political leaders and Nigerians, with many commending security agencies for the successful operation while also calling for the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in the abduction.

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