Ex-Army Chief Gen Buratai Slams Army, Govt: You Easily Track Influencers But Can’t Track Kidnappers And Victims
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai (retd.), has questioned claims that Nigerian security agencies are unable to trace the bandits responsible for the abduction of dozens of schoolchildren and teachers in Oyo State, arguing that the same agencies routinely tracked ordinary citizens and social media personalities.
Speaking during an interview on TVC’s Beyond The Headlines, Buratai expressed skepticism over the inability of security forces to locate the kidnappers who attacked schools in Oriire Local Government Area near Ogbomoso on May 15, 2026.
The attackers reportedly stormed multiple schools, including Baptist Nursery and Primary School in Yawota and schools in Esiele, abducting about 39 pupils aged between two and 16 years, alongside seven teachers.
One of the abducted teachers, Michael Oyedokun, was later killed, while the remaining victims are still being held captive.
Buratai said he found it difficult to believe that security agencies could not trace the criminals responsible for the attack, especially when they possessed the capability to monitor and locate ordinary citizens.
“I don’t believe security agencies can’t locate the bandits if they can locate ordinary citizens and social media influencers,” he said.
According to the former Army Chief, bandits openly recorded and circulated videos, made phone calls, revealed their faces, and in some cases live-streamed from their hideouts, yet continued to evade arrest.
While acknowledging that security agencies may face operational and technological challenges, Buratai stressed the need for sustained investment in capacity building.
He called for the recruitment of more security personnel, improved training and retraining programmes, better welfare packages for operatives, and the establishment of specialised hostage rescue units capable of handling complex kdnapping situations.
His comments come amid growing public anger over the prolonged captivity of the abducted pupils and teachers.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has condemned the attack and ordered intensified rescue efforts.
The Federal Government has also approved the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards in Oyo State and deployed additional surveillance and security assets to support ongoing operations.
Security agencies, including the military, police, and local vigilante groups, have continued search-and-rescue operations using both air and ground resources.
However, more than two weeks after the abduction, the victims remain in captivity.
Buratai also suggested that deeper systemic issues may be contributing to the persistence of insecurity, noting that some political actors could be benefiting from the current security challenges facing parts of the country.
As pressure mounts on the government and security agencies to secure the release of the vict!ms, the former Army Chief’s remarks have added to the growing calls for accountability, improved intelligence gathering, and more dec!sive action aga!nst band!try and kdnapping across Nigeria.
