Army Chief Breaks Silence On Abducted Oyo Pupils, Says “We Are Making Tremendous Progress

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has announced that the Nigerian Army has recorded significant progress in ongoing efforts to rescue 39 pupils and seven teachers abducted in Oyo State.

According to Ireporter Online, the victims were kidnapped on May 15 from three schools in Orire Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking during an interactive session with media executives in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Saturday, Shaibu expressed optimism that the abducted pupils and teachers would soon be safely reunited with their families, noting that ongoing operations were yielding positive results.

He said the Army remains actively engaged across all six geopolitical zones in response to Nigeria’s evolving security challenges, stressing that multiple operations have continued to record notable successes.

In the North-East, Shaibu disclosed that troops under Operation Hadin Kai had eliminated over 1,872 insurgents, including a high-profile Islamic State commander, Abu Bilal al-Minuki, in collaboration with international partners. He added that increased stability in the region has allowed displaced persons to return home, citing the closure of an IDP camp in Bama, Borno State.

In the North-West, he said Operation Fansan Yamma has sustained pressure on bandit groups through coordinated offensives and recovery of arms, while in the North-Central region, Operations Enduring Peace, Whirl Stroke and Savannah Shield have improved security across Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, Kwara, Niger and parts of Kogi States.

Shaibu further noted that the South-East has experienced improved stability, with no major disruptions recorded during the last Christmas period, while the South-South has seen increased oil production due to intensified operations against crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and pipeline vandalism.

He described the South-West as largely peaceful, aside from the recent abduction incident in Oyo State.

The Army Chief also announced Federal Government approval for measures aimed at strengthening military manpower, including the establishment of a new Nigerian Army depot in Amasiri-Edda, Ebonyi State, bringing the total number of depots to three nationwide.

He disclosed that recruitment efforts targeting 28,000 young Nigerians are ongoing, with 14,000 already trained across depots in Zaria, Osogbo and Amasiri-Edda. Shaibu added that the Army has revised its training curriculum to emphasize marksmanship, counter-insurgency, and counter-terrorism operations.