A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has lauded Nigeria’s security agencies, saying their recent operations led to the rescue of abducted schoolchildren in Niger State and helped forestall an attempted military takeover in the Republic of Benin.
In a post on his X handle yesterday, Fani-Kayode said about 100 pupils abducted from a school in Papiri, Niger State, a few weeks ago were freed following a coordinated security operation.
He also claimed that the Nigerian Armed Forces played a decisive role in preventing an alleged coup attempt in neighbouring Benin Republic.
According to him, Nigerian troops were placed on alert across border communities, with personnel reportedly drawn from army formations in Ikorodu and Badagry in Lagos State, as well as Owode in Ogun State.
Fani-Kayode commended the security agencies for what he described as swift and strategic interventions aimed at safeguarding national and regional stability.
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He added, “Apart from bombarding the rebel forces via air operations, our ground forces were also mobilised across land borders, drawing personnel from army battalions in Ikorodu, Badagry, and Owode in Ogun State, to prevent the forceful takeover in Benin Republic, forcing the mutineers to retreat from strategic locations, including the national broadcaster and a major military camp where they had regrouped.”
The Federal Government has secured the release of 100 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State.
The development was reported by TVC News and Channels Television on Sunday, though no official statement had been issued by federal authorities as of press time.
The school was attacked in the early hours of November 21, when gunmen on motorbikes stormed the campus, operating for nearly three hours. A total of 315 people, including 303 students and 12 teachers, were initially abducted.
About 50 pupils escaped within the first 24 hours and were safely reunited with their families, leaving 265 victims in captivity.
Last week, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited the school, assuring authorities and parents that the abducted children were safe and would soon be released.
