*Photo: The rescued children*
Amb Sarafa Tunji Isola has expressed joy over the rescue of the abducted children and teachers of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, commending President Bola Tinubu and the security agencies for the feat.
In a statement on Sunday, the
Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom between 2021 and 2023 said: “May I respectfully join millions of well-meaning Nigerians in expressing profound gratitude to Almighty God for the successful rescue of the thirty-nine (39) abducted school children and five (5) teachers of Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State after fifty-six (56) agonising days in captivity. Their safe return is a moment of thanksgiving, renewed hope, and reassurance that evil will never have the final word over our nation.”
Amb. Isola added that “This remarkable achievement deserves our heartfelt commendation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, whose unwavering commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture continues to inspire confidence across the nation. His administration’s determination to confront insecurity with courage, improved coordination, and strategic collaboration is yielding encouraging results that deserve the support of every patriotic Nigerian.
“I also salute the gallant officers and personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), local security networks, intelligence agencies, community volunteers, and every stakeholder whose professionalism, sacrifice, resilience, and patriotism made this successful rescue possible. Their dedication reminds us that national security is strengthened when institutions work together with a shared purpose and unwavering commitment to protecting innocent lives.”
He noted that “While we celebrate this heartwarming victory, our joy remains incomplete without remembering two courageous educators, Mr. Adegboye Adesiyan and Michael Oyedokun, whose lives were brutally cut short by their abductors.”
“They paid the ultimate price in the line of service to humanity and education. We pray that Almighty God grants them eternal rest and comforts their families, colleagues, and the entire educational community with divine strength and enduring peace,” he said.
He stressed that “As the renowned American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. wisely observed, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” This successful rescue reminds us that while justice may sometimes appear delayed, persistence, courage, and collective resolve can ultimately overcome the forces of darkness.
“This development equally calls upon all Nigerians to remain vigilant, united, and supportive of our security institutions. Government alone cannot win the battle against criminality. Citizens, traditional institutions, religious leaders, community organisations, and civil society must continue to provide credible information, strengthen community vigilance, and promote peace, patriotism, and mutual trust. Together, we can build communities where every child learns without fear and every teacher serves without intimidation.
“As we celebrate the freedom of these children and teachers, let us also renew our collective determination to ensure that such painful experiences become increasingly rare across our nation. The rescue of these innocent victims should strengthen our resolve to invest more in intelligence gathering, community policing, modern security technology, youth empowerment, and sustainable socio-economic development that addresses the root causes of insecurity.
“Nigeria’s future remains bright because our resilience is stronger than terror, our unity is greater than fear, and our hope is more powerful than despair. May this successful operation serve as renewed encouragement to our security personnel to remain steadfast in defending our nation’s sovereignty and protecting every Nigerian citizen.”
He prayed that “May Almighty God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, strengthen our security institutions, comfort the bereaved, grant complete healing to the rescued victims, and continue to grant wisdom, strength, and good health to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as he leads our dear nation toward lasting peace, security, and sustainable development.”