By Adesakin Adefemi
A high-powered Federal Government delegation dispatched by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, to address the abduction of pupils and teachers in Oriire Local Government Area. The visit underscores the administration’s growing concern over the incident.
The team is led by the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila. Other senior officials on the delegation include National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu, and Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa, retired.
The delegation also includes Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe and several other top government officials. Their arrival in Ogbomoso marks the first major federal response on the ground since news of the abduction broke.
According to the Presidency, the mission is a fact-finding and security assessment visit. The officials are expected to evaluate the situation, review ongoing rescue efforts, and identify gaps in security coverage across the affected area.
A key part of the visit involves direct engagement with the affected communities. The delegation is scheduled to meet families of the abducted pupils and teachers, as well as community leaders and local security operatives.
Security sources said the team will coordinate with the Oyo State Government and security agencies to harmonize the federal and state response. The goal is to streamline operations and improve intelligence gathering in Oriire and surrounding areas.
The visit signals a shift toward more direct federal involvement in the crisis. Until now, the state government and local security forces have been leading efforts to secure the release of the abducted schoolchildren and teachers.
Officials accompanying the delegation said the Federal Government is prioritizing the safe return of all victims. They added that measures to strengthen security around schools in vulnerable communities will also be reviewed during the trip.
The arrival of the delegation comes as pressure mounts on authorities to end the wave of abductions targeting schools in parts of the country. The Federal Government has said it will deploy additional resources to Oyo State to support ongoing rescue and prevention efforts.
