Nearly 18 hours after the rescue of pupils and teachers abducted from a school in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had yet to publicly react to the development, prompting criticism from the Presidency.
President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Sunday accused Atiku of remaining silent despite previously commenting on the abduction during the victims’ 57-day captivity.
In a post on X, Onanuga said the former vice president had repeatedly criticised the Federal Government over the incident but had not acknowledged the successful rescue or commended the security agencies involved in the operation.
He, however, praised Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi for reacting to the development, noting that although Obi did not commend the Federal Government, he called for thanksgiving following the victims’ release.
“Kudos to Peter Obi: at least he has spoken and called for thanksgiving without commending the commander-in-chief,” Onanuga wrote.
The pupils and teachers regained their freedom on Friday after spending 57 days in captivity. The Federal Government said the rescue followed coordinated operations by security agencies, during which eight suspected kidnappers were arrested while others were neutralised. Officials also disclosed that the government rejected the kidnappers’ demand for the release of a detained kingpin, insisting there was no negotiation or quid pro quo in securing the victims’ freedom.
The rescue has drawn reactions from several public officials, including Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who commended President Tinubu and the security agencies for the operation, while Obi called on Nigerians to give thanks for the victims’ safe return. Atiku’s silence, however, became the focus of the Presidency’s criticism.
