NOA urges national unity following Oriire abduction victims’ rescue
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to unite against insurgency, warning that the country’s diversity must not be exploited by criminal elements seeking to spread fear and division.
Director-General of the NOA, Lanre Issa-Onilu, made the appeal while commending security agencies for rescuing pupils and teachers abducted by suspected terrorists in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State. In a statement issued on Monday by the agency’s Deputy Director, Paul Odeyin, Issa-Onilu described the rescue as evidence of what coordinated intelligence and effective interagency collaboration can achieve.
According to the statement, the month-long operation in the forests of Old Oyo National Park led to the identification of the suspected kingpins behind the abduction, disrupted the group’s logistics network and secured the victims’ release without the payment of ransom or any concessions to the kidnappers.
Meanwhile, Issa-Onilu paid tribute to security personnel who were killed or injured during the operation, describing their sacrifices as invaluable. He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant, promptly report suspicious activities and reject ethnic, religious and political divisions that undermine national security.
He also said the NOA would continue to mobilise communities through its nationwide network spanning the country’s 774 local government areas to strengthen national unity, promote civic responsibility and encourage public participation in safeguarding the nation.
Similarly, former Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, said Nigeria’s fight against insecurity requires stronger intelligence gathering and closer coordination among security agencies. Speaking during a national television interview, he cited the abductions of the Chibok and Dapchi schoolgirls, as well as the recent kidnapping of pupils in Oyo State, as recurring incidents that underscore the need to apply lessons from previous operations.
Furthermore, Daura said security agencies should thoroughly debrief rescued victims, witnesses and members of rescue teams to improve intelligence collection and operational planning. He argued that poor coordination, rather than the absence of intelligence, often weakens efforts to prevent attacks. He also attributed the failure to prosecute suspects involved in mass kidnappings to weak political will, warning against political leaders overruling security professionals on operational matters.
Commenting on the recent rescue operation in Oyo State, Daura said he was not convinced it had significantly weakened the Ansaru terrorist group, citing reports that the abductors escaped after abandoning their victims, thereby denying security agencies the opportunity to apprehend key suspects and obtain valuable intelligence. He also dismissed claims that former President Muhammadu Buhari governed through a “cabal,” denied retaining influence within the security establishment after leaving office and rejected the suggestion that insecurity is worse under southern presidents, insisting that the trend depends on leadership competence and accountability rather than regional considerations.
