‘We saw them as our children’ — Police recount rescue of 44 Oyo school pupils, teachers

Police officers of the Special Intervention Squad, SIS, and the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, have said they gave their all in a joint operation with the military and other security agencies to rescue the 44 abducted pupils and teachers of Oriire schools in Oyo State.

One officer, Sergeant John Jerome Mbena, was killed during the operation, while several others sustained various degrees of injuries.

*IG mourns fallen officer, commends team*  

Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, mourned the slain officer on Friday while receiving personnel who took part in the rescue mission. He commended the operatives for their bravery and the success of the operation.

“We just finished prayers for the officer we lost in the Oyo State school abduction incident. You will recall that a few weeks ago I called all of you here and told you that you would be joining other sister agencies on a very serious national assignment.

“I’m happy you went and you did us proud. I got a briefing from the commander of the operation about the role you played. I cannot thank you enough for your national service,” the IGP said.

The police chief disclosed that other injured officers are responding well to treatment. He assured that the force would continue to cater to their welfare and that of the family of the slain officer.

“For the others who sustained injuries, we are happy they are recovering very fast,” he said, adding that both government and private hospitals have been engaged to ensure adequate care.

*‘Police officers are human beings’*  

Explaining why the force publicly acknowledges officers killed in the line of duty, the IGP said personnel are entitled to be mourned and celebrated, noting that the practice is standard globally.

“Police officers, first and foremost, are human beings. Police officers have emotions. Police officers feel it when a colleague dies,” he said, stressing that such officers die “protecting the people.”

He commended the collaboration between the police and other security agencies, insisting that no single agency is superior in the fight against insecurity.

“We have made up our minds to work together, train together and fight this insurgency together,” he stated.

The IGP also appealed to the public to volunteer useful information to security agencies.

“We beg you. We plead with members of the public: if you see something, say something. Cooperate with security agencies. The situation we have now is such that everybody must come together. Give us information. Assist us to nip it in the bud. Because the life you save may be your own,” he said.

*‘We treated them as our own children’*  

One of the officers who participated in the operation, SP Mohammed Abduramaan, said the team viewed the abducted children not as strangers but as their own.

“We didn’t look at them as victims. We looked at them as our own children. Every step we took, we took those steps for the children.

“So we are very happy that we carried out a successful operation. We heard their cry and we answered the call and we succeeded. 

“This is what we are trained for… it is our job. We are happy to do the job. We are going back to our various formations to continue our work,” he said.