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The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar for failing to publicly react to the release of abducted pupils and teachers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Onanuga said nearly 18 hours after the victims regained their freedom, the former vice-president had yet to acknowledge the development, despite repeatedly criticising the Federal Government over the abduction while the victims remained in captivity.
In a post on his X handle on Saturday, the presidential aide accused Atiku of turning the incident into a political issue, saying his silence after the rescue was unexpected.
“Almost 18 hours after the Oriire pupils and their teachers regained their freedom, Atiku Abubakar has not deemed it fit to rejoice with the Tinubu Federal Government, the security agencies and the traumatised victims,” Onanuga wrote.
He added that Atiku had “weaponised the kidnap as a campaign issue several times” since the abduction occurred 57 days earlier, questioning why the former vice-president had stopped commenting after the victims’ release.
“Maybe the veteran presidential runner is waiting for some bad news to attack the Tinubu administration,” Onanuga said.
The presidential aide also praised Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for acknowledging the rescue. He noted that Obi expressed relief over the victims’ freedom and called for thanksgiving, although he did not directly commend President Tinubu.
The 39 pupils and seven teachers were abducted on May 15 after gunmen attacked Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, in Oriire Local Government Area.
The incident triggered public outrage and protests by members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers and other stakeholders, particularly after one of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was killed by his captors.
Before the rescue, Atiku had repeatedly criticised the government’s response, calling for urgent action to secure the victims’ release. He described the distribution of rice to affected families as “not governance” but “an abdication of responsibility”, arguing that rescuing the victims should have been the government’s priority.
He also warned that “when children are missing, the nation expects urgency. When teachers are abducted, the nation expects compassion.”
The government announced the victims’ release on Friday, with Onanuga saying that the operation involved no negotiations with the kidnappers. He disclosed that eight suspected members of the gang had been arrested and handed over to the Department of State Services, while several others were neutralised.
He added that a suspected kingpin whose release had been demanded by the abductors remained in custody and was facing prosecution.
Peter Obi, in his reaction, described the rescue as a moment of relief but cautioned that the development should not distract from the broader challenge of insecurity across the country. He called for stronger measures to protect citizens and prevent future abductions.
President Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, and security agencies have also welcomed the release, with the President commending the military, DSS, and police for securing the victims’ freedom without making concessions to the abductors.
