The South-West Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, has assured Nigerians that security agencies are intensifying efforts to secure the safe release of the schoolchildren and teachers abducted in Oyo State, expressing confidence that they would regain their freedom soon.
Fayoade gave the assurance on Monday during an official working visit to the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters in Ikeja, where he met with senior police officers to review ongoing security operations and discuss strategies for strengthening policing across the South-West.
Addressing journalists, the DIG said all relevant security agencies, working in collaboration with government authorities, were fully committed to ensuring the victims were rescued safely. He stressed that the priority of the police remained the successful rescue of the abductees rather than public discussions surrounding ransom negotiations.
“The update is that all agencies, including government, are working very hard. I can assure you that within the shortest possible time, the children and their teachers will be free,” he said.
Reacting to reports suggesting that the kidnappers had altered their demands from seeking the release of certain individuals to requesting ransom payments and the release of foot soldiers, Fayoade dismissed such claims, maintaining that the police had no official information to support the reports.
According to him, the Nigeria Police Force does not engage in public discussions on ransom matters, as all operational efforts are focused on rescuing victims from captivity through coordinated security operations.
The DIG explained that his visit formed part of a broader supervisory tour of police commands within the South-West geopolitical zone. He said the exercise was designed to assess operational readiness, evaluate security challenges confronting the region, and engage officers on strategies to improve crime prevention and public safety.
He noted that discussions during the visit centred on strengthening manpower, enhancing operational effectiveness, improving personnel welfare, and expanding the use of intelligence-led policing to combat emerging security threats.
Fayoade disclosed that the recruitment of 40,000 new police personnel was already underway as part of efforts to address manpower shortages within the Force. He described adequate staffing as critical to improving police visibility, response time, and the overall effectiveness of law enforcement across the country.
He further stated that the welfare of police officers remains one of the major priorities of the Inspector-General of Police, explaining that improved working conditions, better welfare packages, and the provision of modern operational equipment would significantly boost officers’ morale and enhance service delivery.
Speaking on police modernisation, the DIG revealed that the Force is making significant investments in technology to strengthen intelligence gathering, criminal investigations, and crime prevention.
He disclosed that work is ongoing on a central data centre at the Force Headquarters, which will enable security agencies to access verified information on individuals with criminal records, facilitate intelligence sharing, and improve the deployment of security resources nationwide.
Fayoade also said the Nigeria Police Force is integrating Artificial Intelligence into its investigative and intelligence operations to improve crime detection, support data-driven policing, and strengthen the country’s overall security architecture.
According to him, many of the operational successes recorded by police commands across the country have been made possible through sustained investments in intelligence gathering, technical training, and modern investigative techniques.
While acknowledging that more work remains to be done, he assured Nigerians that the Force would continue to improve its operational capacity and deliver more effective policing.
The DIG also emphasised the importance of public communication, directing police commands to ensure that major operational achievements are promptly communicated to the public. He said keeping citizens informed about successful operations would strengthen public confidence in the police and highlight the efforts being made daily by officers to safeguard lives and property.
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