STATEMENT BY GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA, CON, GSGI, GOVERNOR OF IMO STATE AND CHAIRMAN OF THE PROGRESSIVE GOVERNORS’ FORUM ON THE RESCUE OF THE ORIIRE SCHOOLCHILDREN
On behalf of the Government and good people of Imo State, I commend the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the safe release of the schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oriire, Oyo State. After fifty-six days in captivity, these young Nigerians and their teachers are returning to their families unharmed, without ransom and without concession. I rejoice with their parents, with the Government and people of Oyo State, and with a nation that refused to abandon its children.
This outcome did not happen by chance. It followed a direct presidential mandate, executed with precision by a joint task force drawn from our Armed Forces and the intelligence and security agencies, which dismantled the terrorists’ infrastructure, arrested eight of the kidnappers and compelled the unconditional release of every captive. It shows that President Tinubu is a committed leader, prepared to go to every length to secure the life of every Nigerian. Under his watch, those who traffic in the terror of children will find neither refuge nor reward.
I salute the gallant officers and personnel who spent weeks in the forest so that these children could come home, and I extend our solidarity to the families as their children recover. As Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, I assure the President that the Progressive Governors stand firmly behind him and our security agencies in the continuing work of ridding our country of terrorism.
Senator Hope Uzodimma, CON, GSGI
Governor, Imo State and Chairman, Progressive Governors’ Forum
10 JULY 2026
