The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has explained why security agencies took 56 days to rescue pupils and teachers abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, saying the delay was necessary to protect the lives of the victims.
According to Punch Newspaper, the police chief said security operatives deliberately avoided a rushed operation because the kidnappers had threatened to kill the captives if any forceful rescue attempt was made.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the IG said intelligence gathered during the operation indicated that patience and careful planning were required to ensure the safe return of the victims.
He noted that security agencies opted for an intelligence-driven strategy rather than direct confrontation, stressing that the primary objective was to rescue all the victims alive.
The police boss added that the operation involved close collaboration among the Nigeria Police Force, the military, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies, leading to the eventual rescue of the abducted pupils and teachers.
Egbetokun maintained that although many Nigerians questioned the length of the operation, security personnel remained focused on preserving lives instead of launching an assault that could have resulted in casualties.
He commended all the security agencies that participated in the rescue mission and assured Nigerians that efforts were ongoing to apprehend every member of the kidnapping syndicate responsible for the attack.
