The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that ongoing security operations are focused on securing the safe return of schoolchildren and teachers abducted during recent attacks in different parts of the country.
Speaking at a special national security briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government remains determined to rescue all victims and strengthen efforts to protect schools and communities from future attacks.
The reassurance comes amid growing public concern over recent abductions in Oyo State and a terrorist attack on a school in Askira-Uba Local Government Area of Borno State, where several children were reportedly taken. The incidents have renewed fears about insecurity in vulnerable communities across the country.
Describing the attacks as disturbing, Idris said security agencies were working around the clock to track down those responsible and ensure the victims are safely returned to their families.
“The safe return of every child and teacher currently in captivity remains a top national priority,” he said. “No Nigerian child should be held captive, and every lawful resource available to the government is being deployed to secure their freedom.”
According to the minister, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed security agencies to intensify rescue efforts, including deploying specialised teams and expanding surveillance across forest areas often used by criminal groups as hideouts.
Idris also announced plans to recruit 1,000 forest guards to support security operations in high-risk communities. The initiative, he said, is aimed at improving security presence in remote areas where bandits and terrorists frequently operate.
He explained that several security and intelligence agencies, including the Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force, the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), and the National Counter Terrorism Centre, are working together to coordinate rescue operations and gather intelligence.
“We are not relenting,” Idris stated. “Intelligence gathering, aerial surveillance, and search-and-rescue operations are ongoing across affected areas. While we cannot disclose operational details, Nigerians should be assured that progress is being made.”
The minister stressed that the government’s strategy extends beyond military action. He said authorities are focusing on intelligence-led policing, technology-driven security measures, and long-term reforms, including the proposed introduction of state policing.
“We are dealing with a complex and evolving security challenge,” he said. “Our approach combines force, intelligence, collaboration, and institutional reforms to achieve lasting peace and security.”
He urged Nigerians to remain calm and support security agencies by providing credible information, while warning against the spread of misinformation that could undermine ongoing operations or aid criminal groups.
Idris also called for national unity in the fight against terrorism.
“Terrorism has no tribe, religion, or political affiliation,” he said. “Its only purpose is destruction. As Nigerians, we must stand together and deny these criminals the fear and division they seek to create.”
Addressing concerns from families of abducted victims, the minister assured them that government efforts to secure the release of their loved ones remain active and unwavering.
During the briefing, security officials expressed confidence in the country’s ability to defeat terrorist groups and rescue those being held captive.
A senior military spokesperson, Brigadier General Samaila Uba, said recent attacks should not be interpreted as a sign that security forces are losing ground. Instead, he argued that insurgents are being forced out of their traditional strongholds due to sustained military pressure.
“We have taken the fight to every corner where these terrorists operate,” Uba said. “Their camps, bases, and supply networks have been destroyed. Many of them are now fleeing into areas that previously had little or no security concerns.”
He vowed that the armed forces would continue to pursue terrorists and other criminal elements wherever they operate.
“Anyone who takes up arms against Nigeria will be tracked down and neutralised,” he added.
Also speaking, the Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, explained that hostage rescue operations require careful planning and patience rather than rushed actions driven by public pressure.
According to him, the safety of victims remains the most important consideration in any rescue mission.
“The goal of security operations is to save lives, not to impress anyone,” Mijinyawa said. “Our responsibility is to ensure victims return safely to their families and communities, and that principle guides every decision we make.”
The Nigeria Police Force also reassured Nigerians that intelligence-led operations are continuing across the country, although specific details remain confidential to protect both security personnel and those being rescued.
