Presidency slams Atiku for silence after release of Oriire schoolchildren

Abdullateef Fowewe

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu, has criticised former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar for remaining silent nearly 18 hours after the release of schoolchildren and teachers abducted from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

“Almost 18 hours after the Oriire pupils and their teachers regained their freedom, Atiku Abubakar @atiku has not deemed it fit to rejoice with the Tinubu Federal Government, the security agencies and the traumatised victims,” Onanuga wrote.

Adding that, “Previously, he weaponised the kidnap as a campaign issue several times since it happened 57 days ago.

“Now that the abductees are out, all is quiet on Atiku’s internet lane. No comment. No words of praise. Maybe the veteran presidential runner is waiting for some bad news to attack the Tinubu administration.

“Kudos to Peter Obi: at least he has spoken and called for thanksgiving without commending the commander‑in‑chief.”

Onanuga’s post singled out Atiku for what he described as an inconsistent public posture on the crisis and contrasted it with comments from Peter Obi, who — according to Onanuga — called for thanksgiving after the rescue but did not praise the president or the security agencies involved.

Dailyeconomy reported on Friday that Onanuga had confirmed Nigerian security agencies rescued all the pupils and teachers abducted in the May 15 raids.

Gunmen stormed three schools — Baptist Nursery and Primary School (Yawota), Community Grammar School (Esiele) and L.A. Primary School (Ahoro‑Esinele) — taking 39 pupils, aged roughly two to 16, and seven teachers. One teacher was killed while in captivity.

The hostages were held for nearly two months amid repeated threats from their captors, prompting sustained military and police operations in the Old Oyo National Park area.