By Akeem Oduyoye
A former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has praised Nigeria’s security agencies, saying they played major roles in rescuing kidnapped schoolchildren in Niger State and stopping an attempted military takeover in Benin Republic.
In a post on his X handle on Monday, Fani-Kayode stated that about 100 pupils taken from a school in Papiri, Niger State, a few weeks ago were safely recovered by security operatives. He also claimed that the Nigerian Armed Forces helped to prevent a coup in the neighbouring country.
According to him, fighter jets were deployed to dislodge the group of soldiers who attempted to seize power in Benin Republic, while ground troops were positioned along the border to block further movement.
He wrote that soldiers were mobilised from units in Ikorodu, Badagry, and Owode in Ogun State to support the operation and ensure that the mutineers did not gain control of key locations, including the national broadcaster and a major military base.
Reports earlier confirmed that the Federal Government secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area of Niger State. The rescue was reported by TVC News and Channels Television on Sunday, although the government had not issued a statement at the time.
The attack happened on November 21 when armed men invaded the community around 2 am, riding on motorbikes and operating for several hours. They took away 315 people — 303 students and 12 teachers.
About 50 children escaped within the first day and were reunited with their families, leaving 265 still in captivity.
Last week, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, visited the school and assured parents and teachers that efforts were ongoing and that the children were safe.