Step Rights Magazine Pralarg Magazine
By Olayemi Akinwunmi | Step Rights Magazine
ABUJA, Nigeria
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.), has questioned claims that Nigerian security agencies are unable to trace the kidnappers responsible for the abduction of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, arguing that the same agencies routinely track ordinary citizens and social media personalities.
Speaking during an interview on TVC News’ Beyond The Headlines, Buratai expressed doubt that security operatives lack the capacity to locate the criminals behind the attack, insisting that modern intelligence and surveillance capabilities should make it possible to track those responsible.
“I don’t believe security agencies can’t locate the bandits. If they can locate ordinary citizens and social media influencers, I don’t believe they can’t locate these bandits,” Buratai said during the televised interview.
His remarks come amid growing concern over the abduction of pupils and teachers from schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, a development that has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed scrutiny of Nigeria’s security architecture.
Calls for Improved Intelligence and Rescue Operations
Buratai acknowledged that security agencies may face operational and technological challenges but maintained that such obstacles should not prevent the effective pursuit of criminal groups.
According to the former army chief, many kidnappers and bandits openly communicate through mobile phones, release videos, and in some cases reveal their identities while continuing to evade arrest.
He urged the government to strengthen intelligence-gathering capabilities, expand recruitment into the armed forces and other security services, improve training and retraining programmes, and provide better welfare packages for personnel.
Buratai also advocated the establishment and strengthening of specialised hostage rescue units capable of responding to complex kidnapping situations while minimizing risks to victims.
Growing Pressure on Authorities
The prolonged captivity of abducted pupils and teachers has intensified public pressure on security agencies and government authorities to secure their release.
Parents, community leaders, civil society groups, and education stakeholders have continued to demand decisive action, while concerns persist over the increasing frequency of kidnappings targeting schools and rural communities across the country.
Concerns Over Nigeria’s Security Challenges
Beyond the immediate kidnapping crisis, Buratai suggested that deeper systemic issues may be contributing to the persistence of insecurity in parts of Nigeria. He noted that certain political interests could be benefiting from the country’s security challenges, a claim that is likely to fuel further debate among policymakers and security experts.
His comments add to growing calls for accountability, improved intelligence operations, and more effective strategies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of violent crime.
Conclusion
As security agencies continue efforts to rescue the victims and dismantle criminal networks, Buratai’s remarks have reignited public discussion about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s intelligence and security systems.
For many Nigerians, the central question remains whether agencies that possess the capacity to monitor and locate citizens can deploy the same capabilities more effectively against armed criminal groups threatening lives and national security.
Source: TVC News, Beyond The Headlines interview with Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd.), June 2026.