‘Fear Of Collateral Damage Hindering Rescue Operations Of Kidnapped Pupils, Teachers’ — Ogbomoso Monarch

The Soun of Ogbomosoland, Ọba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, Orumogege III, has attributed the slow pace of efforts to rescue the abducted schoolchildren and teachers in Ori-ire Local Government Area of Oyo State to fears of “collateral damage”.

Speaking in a video shared on social media while addressing members of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and other protesters at his palace in Ogbomoso on Tuesday, Ọba Ghandi explained that many people questioning the response of security agencies may not fully understand the complexities involved in securing the release of the abductees.

“Many people would ask: if it were the president’s or the governor’s child, wouldn’t they have done something about it? But let me tell you something, the reason why they can’t do more than they are doing now, even if it’s their children who are there, is what is called ‘collateral damage’ in English language,” he said.

According to the monarch, who spoke in Yoruba language, the volatile nature of the situation has made security operatives cautious of taking actions that could trigger fatal and avoidable consequences.

“Where these people are, if they storm them, with what we’ve seen these bandits did, how they beheaded someone, they would just kill more people they can kill,” he said.

“I was there on Saturday, and we saw a lot of soldiers and their vehicles. What one would think is that with the number of soldiers there, why can’t they go after them, but they can’t go where they are,” the traditional ruler added.

His comments come amid growing concern over the fate of the abducted pupils and teachers, whose kidnapping has sparked national outrage and renewed calls for urgent action to secure their release.