President Bola Tinubu on Thursday assured residents of Oyo State that the schoolchildren and teachers abducted during coordinated attacks on three primary schools in Oriire Local Government Area would be rescued unharmed.
The President, who also urged South-West governors to preserve the developmental legacy of their founding fathers, said the Federal Government was deploying all available measures, including international collaboration, to secure the release of the victims and tackle rising insecurity across the country.
The PUNCH reports that the schoolchildren and their teachers were abducted during coordinated attacks on Baptist Nursery and Primary School, Yawota, Community Grammar School and L.A. Primary School, Esiele, in Oriire LGA on Friday, May 15, 2026,
Speaking during the inauguration of the newly remodelled and redeveloped Premier Hotel in Ibadan, Oyo State, Tinubu said the Federal Government was deploying all measures to secure their release.
He also said the government was addressing the rising insecurity across the country.
“I must at this point reassure the good people of Oyo State and indeed the South-West that the Federal Government is seriously addressing the upswing in banditry, kidnapping and associated criminalities across the nation,” he said.
The President, therefore, called on Nigerians to remain vigilant and support security agencies through intelligence sharing and community collaboration.
“I urge all citizens to remain vigilant and to work collaboratively with security agencies.
“There is undoubtedly a huge role for traditional and faith-based institutions to play in this regard, and I urge them to take the lead through the various channels provided by government,” he added.
The President explained that economic growth could only thrive in an atmosphere of peace and security, adding that his administration had made substantial investments in strengthening the nation’s security architecture.
“Economic development can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace, stability and security. That is why our administration has continued to invest significantly in strengthening the nation’s security architecture,” he said.
Tinubu explained that over the past three years, the government had enhanced inter-agency coordination, improved intelligence gathering, expanded technological surveillance capabilities, strengthened community-based security initiatives and increased support for the armed forces and security agencies.
“There is an ongoing process in the National Assembly targeted at enhancing policing at all levels. We hope to roll this out in no distant future,” he said.
He stressed further that his administration’s efforts were yielding measurable results across several parts of the country and would continue until every Nigerian could live and conduct business safely.
“These efforts are yielding measurable results across many parts of the country. We remain committed to ensuring that every Nigerian, every investor, and every visitor can live, work, travel and do business in safety and confidence,” he stated.
He said visitors and investors should be assured that Nigeria was becoming increasingly secure and attractive for investment.
“As guests look forward to using this magnificent facility from within Nigeria and from different parts of the world, they should be assured that our nation is becoming increasingly secure, increasingly connected and increasingly open for business.
“The combination of improved security, expanding infrastructure, economic reforms and strategic investments such as this Premier Hotel, therefore, conveys a strong message that Nigeria is moving steadily towards a more prosperous future,” he said.
Speaking on the remodelled Premier Hotel, the President described it as a landmark project that reaffirmed the commercial, cultural, and strategic importance of Ibadan and Oyo State.
Tinubu said, “Today, what we are celebrating is not just the reopening of a hotel, but the restoration of a true national icon.
“The transformation and modernisation of this facility remind us that heritage should not be abandoned to the passage of time.
“Rather, it should be preserved, renewed, and adapted to meet contemporary realities. In many ways, this project mirrors the rebirth of other iconic national assets across our country.
“It similarly demonstrates that our past can serve as a foundation upon which we build a stronger future.”
The President paid tribute to the visionary leaders of the old Western Region, adding that their enduring institutions continued to serve generations.
“Let me, at this point, pay well-deserved tribute to the visionary leaders of the old Western Region who established enduring institutions and development assets that have continued to serve generations.
“They, undoubtedly, understood that sustainable development required long-term thinking, strategic investment, and collective action.
“Their foresight laid the foundation for many of the economic and social achievements that continue to distinguish this region today,” he said.
The President said Nigeria was undergoing significant economic reforms aimed at laying the foundation for sustainable growth and prosperity.
PUNCH
