The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Monday confirmed the release of 100 abducted students from St. Mary’s Catholic School, Papiri, in Niger State, assuring that efforts are ongoing to free the remaining captives.
Onanuga made the disclosure during an interview on Arise News, where he also addressed growing concerns about the security situation, ransom payments, and the status of police escorts for VIPs.
He said, “We have wound all of them out. We are hoping the others will soon be released. Security agents are making all kinds of efforts to get those children out.”
When asked about reports suggesting ransom was paid, Onanuga refused to confirm or deny, saying, “I don’t know… I don’t want to talk about security people and the way they do their work. All I am aware of is that they got the children out… This is the result that really matters.”
Clarifying the figures involved in the mass abduction, Onanuga stated, “The final figure they gave was that 215 students and 12 teachers were abducted… We are grateful that we have 115 students and 12 teachers remaining.”
Asked whether further rescue efforts would involve military operations or negotiations, he referred to earlier statements by the National Security Adviser.
“The NSA said those children will be released in batches. I’m sure they must have found a way around it… I’m not a security man, I don’t want to talk about security,” he said.
Onanuga dismissed speculation about the identity of the kidnappers, saying, “Generally, the people operating along that axis… they are terrorists. Either they belong to Ansaru and all these gangs, or they are just terrorists operating there.”
Police Withdrawal From VIPs Ongoing — Presidency
Addressing President Bola Tinubu’s directive on the withdrawal of police officers from VIP duty, Onanuga maintained that the Inspector General of Police had begun implementing the order.
“The IG came out to say he has withdrawn them… about 12,000 policemen doing VIP work. I rarely see policemen outside like before,” he noted.
However, he explained that some individuals still seen with armed escorts might be using private or auxiliary security.
“There are those they call spy policemen… They wear police-like uniforms, but they are not really part of the workforce of the police,” he added.
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