Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has applauded Nigeria’s security agencies, asserting that they not only rescued about 100 abducted schoolchildren in Niger State but also helped thwart an attempted military coup in neighbouring Benin Republic.
In a post shared on Monday via his X handle, Fani-Kayode said the children taken from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger State were freed by Nigerian security operatives a few weeks after their abduction.
He further alleged that the Nigerian Armed Forces intervened to forestall a coup in Benin Republic by conducting airstrikes against mutinous soldiers.
“100 children that were abducted from their school in Papiri, Niger state by terrorists a couple of weeks ago were rescued by our security forces yesterday, whilst our Armed Forces saved democracy in Benin Republic by sending fighter jets to bomb the hell out of a group of mutinous soldiers who had staged a coup,’’ he wrote.
Fani-Kayode also claimed that Nigerian ground forces were deployed across land borders with troops drawn from battalions in Ikorodu and Badagry in Lagos State, as well as Owode in Ogun State to reinforce the operation and pressure the mutineers into withdrawing from key locations, including the national broadcaster and a major military camp.
The alleged rescue aligns with reports by TVC News and Channels Television on Sunday, which stated that the Federal Government had secured the release of 100 pupils. As of press time, however, no official government statement had been issued.
The Papiri community was attacked on November 21, when gunmen who arrived on motorbikes stormed the school around 2 a.m. and abducted 315 people 303 students and 12 teachers. About 50 pupils escaped within the first 24 hours, leaving 265 still in captivity.
Last week, National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu visited the school, assuring parents and staff that the abducted children were safe and would soon return home.
Advertisement
