Security agencies in Nigeria have been urged to deploy the same tactics they used to rescue the Oyo State’s schoolchildren and teachers to free the victims of abduction in various parts of Kwara State.
The coordinator of the Joint Security Watch, Kwara South, Elder Olaitan Oyin-Zubair, made the call during an interview with LEADERSHIP.
Oyin- Zubair noted that the rescue of the Oriire teachers and pupils was clear proof that with intelligence, coordination and political will, the Nigerian security agencies could defeat criminal elements and restore hope to the people.
“I join other patriotic Nigerians to congratulate President Bola Tinubu and to commend the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police Force and the Office of the National Security Adviser, for this professional and intelligence-driven operation. The fact that no ransom was paid and that the strategy of tracking, encirclement and sustained pressure worked must now become the standard template for all rescue operations across the country.
“My area of concern and jurisdiction remains Kwara South, where we still have citizens in captivity. I make a passionate appeal to our security agencies to immediately roll out the same Oriire method to rescue all abductees across Kwara South, including the Woro boys, and to bring them back safely to their families. Every day in captivity is a day too long.
“We also urge a sustained operation to clean all parks and forest reserves in Kwara South and beyond that are being used as hideouts by criminals so that these places can return to their original purpose of peace and recreation,” he stated.
The local security chief urged the federal, state and local governments to provide adequate funding, vehicles, equipment and welfare support to aid the operations of the security agencies.
“In Kwara South, what we lack most is modern tracking gadgets, surveillance equipment and drones for real-time intelligence. Without these, our efforts will be limited. With the right resources, training and motivation, we can defeat kidnapping and terrorism in our land.
“The synergy displayed in Oriire between the Army, Police, Air Force and the NSA office must be sustained and replicated without delay. I equally commend the Inspector-General of police, Ridwan Olatunji Disu, for his leadership and urge the Police Command in Kwara and across the region to deepen community intelligence gathering, surveillance, and drone operations in partnership with traditional rulers, community leaders and local vigilantes.
“Nigerians are behind our security agencies. We have seen that it can be done. We now ask that the same energy, seriousness and professionalism be used to fetch all our people still in captivity in Kwara South, secure our highways, and reclaim every inch of our land from criminals,” Oyin-Zubair added.
