The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has criticised former Vice President Atiku Abubakar for remaining silent following the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
Onanuga said nearly 18 hours after the victims regained their freedom, Atiku had not issued any statement acknowledging the successful rescue or congratulating the Federal Government, security agencies and the victims.
The presidential aide made the remarks in a post shared on his X account on Saturday.
According to him, Atiku had consistently criticised the Federal Government throughout the 57-day period the victims spent in captivity but had failed to react after they were safely rescued.
“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 further alleged that the former vice president repeatedly used the abduction to score political points against the administration.
According to Onanuga, Atiku had “weaponised the kidnap as a campaign issue several times” since the pupils and teachers were abducted.
He described the former vice president’s silence after the rescue as surprising, suggesting it contrasted sharply with his earlier public interventions on the incident.
“Maybe the veteran presidential runner is waiting for some bad news to attack the Tinubu administration,” Onanuga added.
While criticising Atiku, Onanuga commended the Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi, for reacting to the development.
He noted that although Obi did not directly praise President Bola Tinubu, he acknowledged the rescue and called on Nigerians to offer thanksgiving for the victims’ safe return.
The 39 pupils and seven teachers were kidnapped on May 15 after armed men attacked Community Grammar School, Ahoro-Esiele, and Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, both located in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The abduction generated widespread outrage across the country, particularly after one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was reportedly killed by the abductors.
The incident also triggered nationwide protests organised by members of the Nigerian Union of Teachers and other concerned groups who demanded urgent government intervention.
Throughout the period the victims remained in captivity, Atiku repeatedly criticised the Federal Government over its handling of the crisis.
He argued that distributing relief materials, including bags of rice to affected families, was not an adequate response to the situation.
According to him, “not governance” but “an abdication of responsibility,” insisting that rescuing the victims should have remained the government’s primary focus.
The former vice president also urged the administration to demonstrate greater urgency in responding to the crisis.
He warned that “every display of political merriment is a painful reminder of a government that appears increasingly disconnected from the suffering of its own people.”
In another statement during the crisis, Atiku maintained that “when children are missing, the nation expects urgency. When teachers are abducted, the nation expects compassion.”
He also questioned the response of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and accused the administration of paying greater attention to political engagements than to the plight of the abducted victims.
The Federal Government announced on Friday that all the pupils and teachers had been rescued through a coordinated security operation.
Onanuga disclosed that the rescue mission was carried out without any negotiation or payment of ransom to the kidnappers.
According to him, security agencies arrested eight suspected members of the kidnapping gang, who have since been handed over to the Department of State Services for further investigation.
He added that several other members of the criminal group were neutralised during the operation.
The presidential aide also stated that one of the gang leaders, whose release the kidnappers allegedly demanded during the negotiations, remains in government custody and is currently facing prosecution.
Reacting to the rescue, Peter Obi described the development as welcome news and said he was pleased that the victims had regained their freedom.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Obi said he was “greatly relieved and delighted” by the successful operation.
He expressed appreciation to all those who participated in securing the victims’ release, particularly members of the security agencies.
However, Obi cautioned that the successful rescue should not distract attention from the broader insecurity challenges confronting the country.
He urged the authorities to strengthen security measures to prevent future kidnappings and ensure Nigerians can live without fear.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde also welcomed the rescue of the pupils and teachers.
President Bola Tinubu similarly praised the military, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force for what he described as their professionalism and commitment in rescuing the victims without making concessions to the abductors.
